Area 1 is the eastern side of ZMP airspace. The northern boundary meets Canadian airspace, the southern boundary meets Chicago Center airspace and the western boundary meets Areas 2 and 4. This area is a seasonal area. During the summer it is extremely busy with over flights, reroutes due to thunderstorms and smaller aircraft going into hundreds of smaller airports. Large areas of non-radar require vast knowledge of non-radar rules and airport control. Area 1 handles numerous military airspaces, training routes and refueling operations. There are several approach controls and VFR towers to coordinate with. The traffic slows down during the winter season.