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1981 Map of Basswood Lake West

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Basswood Lake West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

Basswood River defines the international boundary between the United States and Canada in this remote portion of Lake County, Minnesota, and the Rainy River District, Ontario. The landscape is dominated by a complex network of waterways, including Crooked Lake and the expansive Basswood Lake, which is divided into segments such as Jackfish Bay, Pipestone Bay, and Back Bay. Multiple portage routes connect these waters, circumventing major river obstacles like Lower Basswood Falls, Wheelbarrow Falls, and Basswood Falls.

The territory is preserved within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Superior National Forest on the American side, abutting Quetico Provincial Park to the north. Traces of human activity are sparse, limited to a Gaging Station and named points like Caribou Point and Wegens Point. Significant islands like New York Island and Gary Island dot the bays, while Pipestone Falls marks the transition near Newton Lake.