1956 Map of Crab Lake

About this map

Superior National Forest and the Burnt Side State Forest converge in this mid-century survey of the Iron Range region. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of glacial lakes and portages, centered on the sprawling, irregular arms of Crab Lake and the northern reaches of Burnt Side Lake. This 1956 field check documents the area's wilderness character just as modern conservation boundaries were being formalized, showing the intersection of state and federal forest lands. Waterways like the Korb River connect smaller basins such as Cummings Lake and Little Crab Lake, while significant landforms like Pine Island and Shellman Island break the surface of the larger lakes. To the south, the map touches the edge of Breitung, illustrating the transition from the lake-heavy wilderness toward the industrial footprint of the iron mining districts.