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1965 Map of Bear Island

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Bear Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

The waters of Bear Island Lake dominate this northern Minnesota landscape, reflecting a region defined by its overlapping forestry boundaries and glacial lakes. Located within the Superior National Forest and Beaver State Forest, the terrain is a complex network of bays, islands, and narrow channels. Small settlements like Rothman are sparse, while the presence of several Sandpits suggests the local industry required for road construction and maintenance in this timber-rich area.

Lake depths and soundings are carefully charted, from the main body of the lake to the smaller Canary Lake and Blueberry Lake. The map details the transition from still water to moving currents at Rapids along the island channels. Named features such as Mitchell Lake and Johnson Creek provide essential landmarks for navigating the township of Morse, illustrating how the waterway system served as the primary geography of the mid-1960s.