1948 Map of Point Isabelle

About this map

Mendota Light House stands as a vital maritime sentinel at the northern edge of this 1940s coastal survey. The map details the critical water connection between the open waters of Lake Superior and the sheltered Lac La Belle, linked via the Mendota Canal. This narrow passage represents a key piece of nautical engineering for the Keweenaw Peninsula, allowing vessels to bypass the exposed reaches of Bete Grise Bay. The landscape is dominated by the prominent protrusion of Point Isabelle, which separates the larger bay from the smaller Oliver Bay to the south. This survey, based on 1943 aerial photography, documents the shoreline and navigation aids as they appeared in the mid-20th century before significant modern development altered the remote character of this Lake Superior coastline.