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Glite Dictionary
Mesabi Range

Mesabi Range

7.8
A range of hills in northeastern Minnesota with large amounts of iron ore
  • proper noun
  • /mɛˈsɑːbi reɪndʒ/
translation icon : Cordillera Mesabi
  • The Mesabi Range is a significant landmark in northeastern Minnesota, rich in iron ore resources.

Examples

  • The Mesabi Range played a crucial role in the development of the American steel industry.

  • Vast reserves of high-grade iron ore were once mined from the Mesabi Range.

  • She visited the Mesabi Range to learn about its historical iron ore mining operations.

  • The Mesabi Range is famous for its iron ore deposits.

  • Did you know the Mesabi Range was discovered in 1887?

  • Mining companies have operated in the Mesabi Range since the late 19th century, extracting iron ore to support the steel industry.

  • Visitors often hike through the Mesabi Range to explore its natural beauty and learn about its mining history.

Surface Forms

Mesabi Range main

Morphology

Mesabi + range

The phrase is a straightforward place-name composition: a proper name 'Mesabi' + the noun 'range' yields 'the range (chain of hills) called Mesabi', which a B1 learner who knows 'range' can readily infer as a geographical ridge even if they lack historical or geological details. Specific information about iron ore deposits or discovery date is not derivable from the constituents, but the basic locational/landform meaning is compositionally transparent.

Etymology

Mesabi Range, from Mesabi and Range, may come from a local Native American word used for the long line of hills that held rich 'iron ore' found in 1887. That's why Mesabi Range now stands for the area's 'iron mining' and its role in making steel.