1971 Map of Goose Lake

About this map

Leech Lake Indian Res occupies the northern reaches of this territory, where the waters of Leech Lake and Goose Lake dominate a landscape defined by glacial lakes and wetlands. The intricate hydrography of north-central Minnesota is on full display, with the Boy River winding through the Chippewa National Forest and Bowstring State Forest. Small settlements like Elevenmile Corner provide a sense of the sparse human footprint in this heavily forested region during the early 1970s. The map illustrates a complex network of smaller water bodies, including the descriptively named Dirty Nose Lake, Zimmerman Lake, and Grave Lake. Scattered Gravel Pits suggest the importance of local material extraction for maintaining the area's light-duty road network, while the presence of Bear Island and Mud Lake underscores the preserved wilderness character of the Cass County backcountry.