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1972 Map of La Salle Lake

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of La Salle Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

The upper reaches of the Mississippi River flow through a landscape of dense woodlands and glacial lakes at the border of Clearwater and Hubbard counties. This 1970s orthophotomap provides a photographic record of the terrain as it appeared before modern development, anchored by the waters of Big LaSalle Lake and Lower LaSalle Lake. The map reveals the early connectivity of the region, where the Mississippi Headwaters State Forest meets the northern edges of Itasca State Park, indicating a long-standing commitment to preserving these critical headwaters.

Local history is preserved in the location of the Sol Lake Ch and the Old Solway Cem, which alongside the small settlement of Vem, mark the human footprint in this wilderness. Industrial and utility infrastructure is also visible, including the LaSalle Lookout Tower, a Substation, and scattered Gravel Pit operations. The presence of Coffee Pot Landing suggests the recreational and navigational importance of the waterways even in this early era.