Why is This Minnesota Landmark Banned From Having Visitors?

You could live your entire life within the borders of Minnesota, and there's a decent chance you've never heard of this remarkable beauty of nature. It's just north of the town of Hibbing in Saint Louis County. But there's a catch. You can't go there. Ever.

Ok, maybe under very special circumstances, you might be able to visit, but you'll need credentials or clearance.

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What is the 'Hill of Three Waters' And Why Can't You Visit?

Hull-Rust-Mahoning Mine, located just outside Hibbing, is the largest open-pit Iron Mine in the world. It's been in operation since the late 1800s and has helped make Minnesota the largest producer of steel on the entire planet. It also supplied the U.S. military nearly 1/4 of all the iron-ore need for WWI & WWII. Needless to say, it's a pretty important place. And right in the middle of this gigantic mine (which is 3 miles long and 5 miles wide) stands the Hill of Three Waters.

The hill itself is remarkable because it's a triple divide, which means it's a place where two continental divides intersect with each other and the water drained in this area flows into three separate watersheds. With the Hill of Three Waters, the water can flow north into the Hudson Bay (around 450 miles), east into the St. Lawrence Seaway (around 1,000 miles), or south, all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico (around 2,350 miles). That's a long way to travel, especially down to the gulf, but it shows just how special this area is.

To be fair, this wasn't exactly known when the mine opened back in the 19th century. But the operators of the mine have kept the hill somewhat in tact and occasionally allow visitors via special clearance to visit the hill.

For the rest of us, who'll probably never be able to visit the hill, there is some good news. As it turns out, there's an overlook, not far from the mine that is open to the general public.

Check out the video below from PBS North to learn more about the Hill of Three Waters and the Laurentian Divide.

Story Sources: PBS North Website, Historical Marker Database Website, Hibbing Mine View Website