What is the longest freshwater sandbar in the world? Wikipedia’s Minnesota Point page says that Minnesota Point and Wisconsin Pont combined make the largest freshwater sandbar, and someone at UMD says Park Point alone is the longest. However, a Vista Fleet tour guide said that Minnesota Point was the second longest freshwater sandbar, and a Google search for “second longest freshwater sandbar” finds many references to Park Point.
I have read and heard several times that Park Point is the world’s longest sandbar. This is incorrect, as Farewell Spit in New Zealand is either 35 or 25 kilometers.
Also, how long is Park Point? The distance I hear most often is seven miles, which is the figure given on Wikipedia’s Minnesota Point page. I oftentimes hear six miles, and a quick measurement in Google Earth came up with six. Is the oft-repeated seven just a fish story, or have I measured incorrectly? (I started at the south side of the bridge.)
Finally, what is its name? I’ve always heard it called Park Point; I was shocked when the Vista Fleet tour guide called it Minnesota Point. One person on Wikipedia’s Talk Page for Park Point agrees with me, but two people-current and former Duluthians, one of whom lives on Minnesota Point-contend that Park Point is only the park at the end.
