1981 Map of Basswood Lake West

About this map

Canada and United States border waters define this landscape of interconnected lakes and channels during the early 1980s. The map illustrates a complex network of portages and rapids along the Basswood River, where Lower Basswood Falls, Wheelbarrow Falls, and Basswood Falls mark the rugged descent of the watershed. Large expanses of water including Jackfish Bay, Pipestone Bay, and Hoist Bay are punctuated by numerous islands like New York Island and Gary Island. This survey captures the region within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Superior National Forest, highlighting the transition from Minnesota to Ontario. The absence of roads and the reliance on Portage routes and a lone Gaging Station underscores the primitive nature of the wilderness corridor before modern developments altered these historic canoe routes.