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1971 Map of Delta

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Delta
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1989
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1989

About this map

Lake Delta and the surrounding wilderness of the Chequamegon National Forest define this 1970s landscape in Bayfield County. The map reveals a dense concentration of glacial lakes and kettle ponds, ranging from the prominent Eagle Lake and Muskellunge Lake in the northwest to smaller, isolated waters like Spirit Lake and Phantom Lake. This era shows a landscape managed for both timber and recreation, with a clear network of forest roads and specific sites like the Delta Lookout Tower used for fire observation.

Water depth curves, provided by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, offer rare detail for many of these bodies, including Basswood Lake and Lester Lake. The irregular, pockmarked topography is characteristic of the region's terminal moraine, creating a complex network of wetlands and ridges. While formal settlements are sparse, the presence of a Campground near Lake Delta underscores the transition toward the modern recreational economy of northern Wisconsin.