1978 Map of Brule Narrows

About this map

Rainy Lake dominates the southern landscape of this northern borderland, serving as the central waterway through which the international boundary passes. Just after the 1975 establishment of Voyageurs National Park, this survey captures the intricate network of islands and bays that define the Minnesota side of the water, including Big Island, Finlander Island, and Shelland Island. To the north and east, the Canadian wilderness is marked by the vast reaches of Quetico Provincial Park and Little Turtle Lake. The geography reveals a transition between protected American parklands and the rugged Ontario interior, linked by the Brule Narrows. On the Minnesota side, smaller inland bodies like Cruiser Lake and Shoepack Lake sit perched above the larger bay system, while the Canadian portion features industrial or mining-related nomenclature such as Bad Vermilion Lake and Shoal Lake.