Skip to main content
Go to the U of M home page
  • One Stop
  • MyU: For Students, Faculty, and Staff
College of biological sciences

Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories

Menu
  • About the station
    • Overview
    • Station facilities
    • Programs and partnerships
    • Support our work
  • Field biology courses
    • Courses offered
    • Student scholarships
    • Student experience
  • Research
    • Research overview
    • Research funding opportunities at Itasca
    • Publications
    • Data resources
    • Student research papers
    • Lab safety plan
  • Plan your visit
    • Directions
    • Lodging
    • Dining
    • Policies and forms
    • NOL information for faculty and staff
    • Frequently asked questions
  • News
    • New from Itasca
    • Upstream newsletter
  • Contact us

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories

About the station

Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories (IBSL) is a University of Minnesota field station dedicated to research and teaching on how ecosystems work, with an eye to cultivating an appreciation of their value and preservation for future generations. Three ecosystems converge at Itasca: coniferous forest, eastern deciduous forest, and tall grass prairie. Plants and animals native to each are abundant in the 50 square miles of Itasca State Park. 

Over the past century, the station has attracted tens of thousands of students, teachers, and scientists. The Itasca library holds more than 925 articles and dissertations, and 2,500 student papers based on research carried out at Itasca.

The Mississippi River

The headwaters of the Mississippi River are located within Itasca State Park and the river itself is a rich source for field biology research and education. CBS students study aspects of the river, including its microbial diversity. Here are some facts about the river:

  • The Mississippi River flows 2,340 miles from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico.
  • The first 50 miles, navigable only by canoe, are the last vestige of the wild Mississippi.
  • It takes a raindrop approximately 90 days to travel from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico.
  • The river's watershed drains 41 percent of the continental United States, or between 1.2 and 1.8 million square miles.

Learn more about Itasca's geological history, human history, and flora and fauna.

 

College of Biological Sciences

123 Snyder Hall
1475 Gortner Ave
St. Paul, MN 55108

Student Services

3-104 MCB
420 Washington Ave. S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
United States

Quick Links
College directory
Resources for faculty and staff
Contact us

Connect

University of Minnesota
Parking & Transportation
Maps and directions

For Students, Faculty, and Staff

  • One Stop
  • MyU
© 2023 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Privacy Statement Report Web Disability-Related Issue
  • Future Students
    • Undergraduates
      • About CBS
      • Majors and minors
      • Schedule a tour of campus
      • Apply for admission
      • Transfer to CBS
      • Scholarships for incoming students
      • Information for admitted students
    • Graduate students
      • Graduate programs
      • Graduate School admissions
      • Funding for graduate students
  • Current Students
    • Undergraduates
      • Academic advising
      • Career coaching
      • Student engagement
      • Learning abroad
      • Research opportunities
      • Scholarships
      • Dean's list
      • Graduation and commencement
    • Graduate students
      • Funding for graduate students
      • Info for graduate assistants
      • Graduate student governance
      • Policies, forms, and resources
      • Graduate commencement
  • Academics
    • Majors and minors
    • Graduate programs
    • Departments
      • Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics
      • Biology Teaching and Learning
      • Ecology, Evolution and Behavior
      • Genetics, Cell Biology and Development
      • Plant and Microbial Biology
    • Faculty directory
  • Research
    • Research at CBS
    • Undergraduate research
    • Field stations
      • Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve
      • Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories
    • Centers and institutes
    • Facilities, resources and programs
  • About
    • About CBS
    • College leadership
    • Diversity, equity, inclusion, justice
    • Outreach and engagement
    • College directory
    • Offices and services
      • Dean's office directory
      • Advancement
      • Facilities
      • Human resources
      • Research & Learning Technologies
      • Student Services
    • News and events
    • Dean search
    • Resources for faculty and staff
    • Resources for postdocs
  • Alumni
    • Opportunities to engage
    • Alumni awards and recognition
    • News for alumni and friends
    • Update your contact info
  • Give
    • Giving to CBS
    • Support CBS
    • Ways to give
    • Donor impact