1981 Map of Bird Lake

About this map

The St Louis River winds through the heart of this landscape, characterized by the dense woodlands of the Superior National Forest and the industrial activity of the Mesabi Range era. In the northern reaches, the Duluth Missabe and Iron Range railroad skirts the edge of the Hoyt Lakes Corporate Boundary, reflecting the region's historical dependence on iron ore transport. Local geography is defined by a series of small, interconnected water bodies and streams, including Bird Lake, Lillian Lake, and the uniquely named Bum Creek. A Heliport and several Gravel Pits indicate mid-twentieth-century industrial and logistical infrastructure, while the Skibo Vista offers a point of orientation within the expansive forest. The drainage patterns of Water Hen Creek, Shiver Creek, and Little Shiver Creek detail the hydrography of this northern Minnesota wilderness before extensive modern development altered the remote character of the St. Louis County interior.