‘“Forgive my Northern Attitude, I was raised out in the cold”
-Noah Kahan
We took a family trip to Northern Europe last week. Walking through the tree-lined streets along the River Thames in London reminded me how much the landscape of northern Europe looks like Minnesota and the northern United States. Taking the Eurostar train from London to Paris, we passed through the northern French countryside. The terrain resembles that of Otter Tail County. It features rolling hills with a patchwork of farm fields, hardwood trees, and streams (See if you can guess if the photo above is Otter Tail County or northern France. The answer is at the end of this article).
My ancestors emigrated to Minnesota from Ireland and Germany, which also look so much like Minnesota. Maybe part of the reason my ancestors settled here was because it looked like home. My Irish relatives were farmers, and they settled in Farmington, MN to continue farming. It must have felt so comforting to see that same scenery when they were starting over in a brand new world.
Northern Europe is also a similar latitude to the northern United States, so the day length is the same. Winter is cold and dark. I relate so much with Noah Kahan when he says, “Forgive my northern attitude, I was raised on little light”. There’s a toughness that we need to survive this climate. But luckily we experience all four seasons, and spring eventually emerges out of the darkness. The summer days are long and sunny. We appreciate summer so much because we experience both summer and winter.
The lakes in northern Europe are similar in condition and behavior than our lakes in Minnesota. They were formed by the movement of glaciers, freeze over in the winter, and mix in spring and fall. Because of these similarities, lake scientists in North America and Europe compare studies and learn from each other.
When I visit northern Europe it feels like a distant home, so it’s not so unfamiliar. The weather feels the same. The day length feels the same. The landscape is similar. I feel comforted by the deep ancestral connection to that place through the generations. It makes me feel like I belong.
If you’ve ever traveled to the place your ancestors were from, maybe you have experienced the same thing. If not, I encourage you to do a little research on where your ancestors are from and travel there if you can. It can be a rewarding experience.
Moriya Rufer is a water quality professional with 20 years experience working with lakes in northern Minnesota.
The photo above was taken in Otter Tail County, just north of Fergus Falls along highway 59.
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