ABSTRACT
Although Minnesota is part of the Upper Midwest, located in the center of the North American continent, waterborne commerce is very important to the region’s economy. Combined, the Minnesota ports on the Mississippi River system would rank in the top 50 of all U.S. ports by tonnage of cargo handled. In 2007, Duluth–Superior ranked 16th among U.S. ports in tonnage handled, Two Harbors ranked 46th, and Silver Bay ranked 73rd.
