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1985 Map of Iowa Great Lakes

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Iowa Great Lakes
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1993
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1993

About this map

Spirit Lake and the interconnected waters of the Iowa Great Lakes anchor the northeast corner of this mid-1980s landscape, where glacial geology meets an established agricultural and recreational economy. The map details a dense network of conservation areas, such as the West Okoboji Lake State Wildlife Management Area and the Garlock Slough State Wildlife Management Area, protecting the unique marshlands and prairies that define the region's natural character.

Regional commerce is centered on the growing hub of Spencer and the vacation communities of Arnolds Park and Okoboji. Transportation corridors are clearly defined, showing the legacy of the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific and Illinois Central Gulf railroads as they navigate between the headwaters of the Floyd River and the winding Ocheyedan River. From the municipal airports at Sibley and Sheldon to the numerous state wildlife management areas, the survey illustrates a transition from intensive prairie farming to a protected lakeshore environment.