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1959 Map of Gillis Lake

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Gillis Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

Sea Gull Lake and the intricate waterways of the Boundary Waters region define this 1950s landscape, captured just as modern conservation efforts were solidifying the area's protected status. Spanning the Superior National Forest and Minnesota State Forest, the map reveals a wilderness largely devoid of permanent settlements, focused instead on a complex network of glacial basins including Little Saganaga Lake and Gabimichigami Lake.

The presence of designated Trails weaving between Threemile Island and smaller basins like Alpine Lake and Virgin Lake illustrates the era's recreational access points. This survey, depth-checked by the Minnesota Department of Conservation, provides a meticulous record of water levels and island geography in Cook County before decades of ecological change. It is an essential document for tracing the portage routes and primitive campsites that have remained remarkably consistent over time.