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1950 Map of Biwabik

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Biwabik
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

Industrial activity on the Mesabi Range is the defining characteristic of this 1950s landscape, where open-pit excavations like the Biwabik Mine and Embarrass Mine dwarf the surrounding settlements. The town of Biwabik sits at the heart of this complex, surrounded by extensive Mine Dumps and served by the Duluth Missabe and Iron Range railroad. To the east, the Village Boundary of Aurora marks the edge of further development, including the Hudson Pit and Erie Mine.

The terrain is divided by the Laurentian Divide, which separates the waters flowing toward the Great Lakes from those heading to Hudson Bay. Hydrological engineering is evident in the Diversion Channel connecting Wynne Lake to Lake Embarrass, created to manage water near the active pits. In contrast to the heavy industry, the northern portion of the map preserves the natural character of the Superior National Forest, featuring the heights of the Embarrass Mts and the remote Wynne Lake Lookout Tower.