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Ordinarily, running into a pothole is something we try to avoid here in Minnesota, right? But these potholes are some you'll actually want to run into.

Potholes on area roads highways are a rite of Spring in the North Star State, and while they're just a fact of life we deal with, hitting one can be expensive. AAA Minnesota estimated earlier this year that 28 million drivers in the U.S. will encounter a costly repair after hitting a pothole.

In fact, a new survey from AAA found that last year 1 in 10 drivers sustained vehicle damage significant enough to warrant a repair after hitting a pothole. With an average price tag of almost $600 per repair, damage caused by potholes cost U.S. drivers a staggering $26.5 billion in 2021 alone.

But not THESE potholes.

That's because THESE potholes are located at Interstate State Park, at Taylors Falls, Minnesota (a little northeast of the Twin Cities, about 2 hours north of Rochester) and have created some way-cool rock formations that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources calls 'glacial potholes.' A post on the DNR's Facebook page explains more:

Interstate Park’s potholes were made by water that melted from glaciers. That water formed the Glacial St. Croix River 10,000 years ago. Fast-moving whirlpools of sand and water within the river drilled deep holes into the park’s basalt rock. Today, you can visit the park and peer into potholes with unique names like ‘The Cauldron,’ ‘Bake Oven,’ and ‘The Devil's Parlor.’

The DNR went on to say you can check them out yourself, or you can take a guided tour of these glacial potholes which are available from May through October. I haven't been to Interstate State Park yet, but it looks pretty cool.

Although ALL of Minnesota's 75 state parks and recreation areas are pretty cool, too, keep scrolling to check out the most popular state parks here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

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Most Visited State Parks In Minnesota: Is Your Favorite in the List?

Minnesota has 75 beautiful state parks. The parks have an average of 9,700,000 visitors each year. Interestingly enough, nearly 19% of park visitors come from other states and countries, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Now, my favorite State Park is Jay Cooke in Carlton, MN, but it did not break into the top 5.

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