1973 Map of Ridge NW

About this map

The Pine Island State Forest dominates this northern Minnesota landscape, characterized by an orthophotomap format that provides a rare photographic look at the region’s dense forest cover and wetlands in the early 1970s. The meandering Sturgeon River cuts through the northern portion of the map, serving as a primary drainage for the surrounding terrain. This survey is remarkably sparse in terms of human development, containing no roads at the time of the 1973 field check. Instead, the area is navigated via a Winter Trail, reflecting the seasonal logistics required to traverse this low-lying territory. The orthophoto layers reveal subtle changes in vegetation and timber density that traditional contour lines often obscure, offering an archival view of the forest before modern logging or conservation changes.