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2010 Map of Balaton

Name: 2010 Topographic Map of Balaton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2010
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2010

About this map

Balaton and Garvin anchor this section of Lyon County, where the agricultural landscape is defined by a dense concentration of glacial lakes and drainage systems. The town of Balaton sits on the shores of Lake Yankton, supported by the Yankton Lake Dam, while further east, the small settlement of Garvin serves the surrounding farmsteads. The southern portion of the map is dominated by the large expanse of Lake Sarah and its associated Sarah Lake Dam, a significant local water body that shapes the region's recreation and hydrology.

Connecting these water features is the headwaters area of the Des Moines River, which winds through the prairie alongside Long Lake and the two basins of Lake Maria. Man-made modifications to the terrain are evident in features like County Ditch Number Fortyeight, illustrating the historical efforts to manage the water table for cultivation. From the Balaton Post Office to the quiet shores of Iron Lake, this survey documents a classic Minnesota prairie-lake community centered on its vital aquatic resources.