2020 Map of Rat Lake

About this map

Lake Sakakawea dominates the southern reaches of this landscape where the high plains meet the vast reservoir of the Missouri River. The terrain is defined by the winding course of the White Earth River, which carves deep, etched drainages into the plateau as it flows south toward the lake. This 2020 record of McKenzie County reveals a sparse but methodical grid of section roads like 57th St NW and 50th Ave NW, which navigate around numerous small prairie potholes and wetlands. Rat Lake sits as a prominent natural feature amidst this patchwork of agricultural sections, illustrating the complex hydrology of the Missouri River breaks where the upland drainage systems eventually converge at the water's edge.