2017 Map of Rat Lake

About this map

The White Earth River meanders through the northwest corner of this McKenzie County landscape, carving a valley that eventually meets the northern reaches of Lake Sakakawea at the southern edge of the sheet. This terrain is defined by the expansive reservoir and its intricate shoreline, which significantly altered the local geography after the mid-twentieth century. The uplands are dotted with smaller water bodies including Rat Lake and Robinson Lake, set against a geometric grid of rural roads like 100th Ave NW and 53rd St NW. Straddling the border with Mountrail Co, the map documents the section lines and township boundaries—such as t155n r93w—that govern this portion of the North Dakota prairie. The contrast between the natural, eroded river valley and the rigid survey lines illustrates the enduring impact of the Public Land Survey System on the Northern Plains.