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1963 Map of Iron Lake

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Iron Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The United States and Canada border bisects a labyrinth of water and woods in the early 1960s, cutting through Iron Lake and the Sarah River. This northern wilderness is defined by the meeting of Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario and the Superior National Forest in Minnesota. The map details a complex hydrologic network where Curtain Falls marks a dramatic transition point along the international boundary.

Remote and roadless, the landscape is dotted with named islands like Irving Island and Four Island, and secluded water bodies including Nibin Lake, Bibon Lake, and White Feather Lake. The presence of numerous campsites along the shores of Peterson Bay and Crooked Lake suggests the area's established role as a premier destination for backcountry canoe travel. The intricate drainage of the Beartrap River and Sterling Creek further illustrates the dense, water-logged geography of the Boundary Waters region during this era.