1965 Map of Shagawa Lake

About this map

The edge of Ely serves as the gateway to this lake-dominated wilderness at the northern reaches of the Superior National Forest. A complex network of glaciated waterways defines the landscape, including the sprawling Shagawa Lake and the northern arm of Burntside. The map documents the protected character of the region within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the Burntside State Forest. Human infrastructure is concentrated in the southeast, where the Duluth Missabe and Iron Range railroad and an Aqueduct follow the corridor near Armstrong Creek. For those interested in recreation history, the map details established points such as Semer Park and the Fenske Lake Campground, alongside numerous named islands including Honeymoon Island and Blueberry Island. This 1960s survey, updated in the mid-1980s, preserves the mid-century layout of the lakeshore before later development changed the fringes of the wilderness.