1957 Map of Basswood Lake

About this map

Quetico Provincial Park dominates this mid-century survey of the international border between Lake County and Ontario. The intricate water network of the Boundary Waters is documented here during a period of active conservation and scientific interest, highlighted by the Quetico Wilderness Research Center on the shores of Basswood Lake. The map illustrates a landscape shaped by glacial action, featuring massive landforms like Hunter Island and a labyrinth of bays including Thursday Bay and Wednesday Bay. Evidence of human activity is sparse but significant, centered around a historic Trading Post and a Gaging Station used for hydrological monitoring. The placement of a Cem on Washington Island points to early island settlement or long-standing regional presence before the area became more strictly regulated as wilderness.