2010 Map of Central Lakes

About this map

The Saint Louis River and its meandering tributaries define this portion of the Iron Range region as it appeared in the early 21st century. The small settlement of Central Lakes sits along the corridor of Old Highway 53, serving as a focal point for a landscape dominated by water and low-lying wetlands. The hydrology is complex, featuring the upper reaches of the Paleface River and Mud Hen Creek, which wind through a mosaic of small lakes including Elliott Lake, Anchor Lake, and Lake Augusta. This era reflects the established recreational and residential patterns around these water bodies, connected by a network of local routes like Augusta Lake Rd and W Melrude Rd. The map illustrates a rural northern Minnesota environment where glacial topography has created numerous discrete basins, such as Fig Lake and Moilan Lake, which remain largely separated from the primary road grids.