1957 Map of Basswood Lake

About this map

Quetico Provincial Park and the complex waterways of the international boundary define this mid-century survey of the borderlands. The landscape is dominated by the vast Hunter Island and a dense network of lakes including Isabella Lake, Sarah Lake, and the bays of Crooked Lake. Human presence in this wilderness is marked by the Quetico Wilderness Research Center and a Trading Post near the southern edge of the sheet. The map illustrates the 1950s state of these remote waters, showing specific navigation and research landmarks like the Gaging Station and the Cem on Washington Island. Small islands such as Lincoln Island, Squirrel Island, and New York Island are meticulously charted, reflecting the intricate geography of the region before modern development patterns fully reached these northern reaches.