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2013 Map of Ester Lake

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Ester Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

Superior National Forest defines the topography of this remote borderland, where the boundary between the United States and Canada cuts through a complex network of glacial waters. The map centers on the transition from Ottertrack Lake and Saganaga Lake southward into a dense cluster of smaller basins including Ester Lake, Hanson Lake, and the poetically named Lake of the Clouds. Unlike developed regions, this area remains characterized by its reliance on traditional water routes, highlighted by the presence of Swamp Portage connecting Swamp Lake to the higher elevations of the interior.

The landscape is marked by extreme local relief and numerous isolated water bodies such as Gijikiki Lake and Rabbit Lake. The boundary line between Lake and Cook counties bisects the eastern portion of the sheet, while the international border follows the winding channels of the northern lakes. This 2013 survey provides a meticulous record of the wilderness as it appeared in the early 21st century, preserving the exact positions of portages and shorelines across the Minnesota-Ontario line.