Third Grade
Worksheets
Voyageurs National Park
A unique national park is found in northern Minnesota. It is called Voyageurs National Park. It is on the border of the United States and Canada. The best way to explore this park is by boat. Almost half the park is water. There are four major lakes. Twenty-six more lakes can be found inside the park. There are more than five hundred islands. This area has an interesting history.
What is a voyageur? The word voyageur means "to travel" in French. During America's westward expansion, the word was used to describe a man who worked trading furs. Many of the voyageurs were French. They also came from other countries. This fur trade happened in the 1700s and 1800s. It was hard work. The voyageurs had to work for 14 hours each day. They collected beaver furs. They had to be able to carry heavy packs of fur between the many rivers and lakes. The packs were almost 100 hundred pounds each! They used canoes to transport the furs east. Beaver furs were used to make hats. At this time, beaver fur hats were very popular. The voyageurs knew they could make money trading the furs. They also loved adventure. They .....
