1957 Map of Basswood Lake

About this map

Quetico Provincial Park and the Superior National Forest define this international borderland, where the boundary between Ontario and Minnesota bisects a complex network of waterways. The 1957 field check captured the area before modern wilderness regulations restricted certain footprints, showing a Trading Post near the center of the lake system and the Quetico Wilderness Research Center on the shoreline. This map illustrates the unique trans-border geography of Hunter Island, a massive landmass surrounded entirely by water, and features distinctive sites like the small settlement at Gary I. From the Gaging Station to a remote Cem on the island, the map tracks how scientific and commercial interests maintained a presence in this aquatic interior. Water travel routes are clearly marked by named channels such as Ranger Bay and Thursday Bay, reflecting the long-established canoe and portage culture of the region.