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1960 Map of South Lake

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of South Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

The United States-Canada border bisects a series of interconnected glacial lakes in this remote section of Cook Co during the late 1950s and early 1960s. The landscape is defined by the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the Superior National Forest, where the Laurentian Divide separates watersheds. Transport through this dense wilderness is limited to the historic Gunflint Trail and the Ontario Minnesota MC Railroad corridor near Gunflint Lake.

Cultural landmarks are few, centered on outdoor recreation and historical transit routes like the Height of Land Portage. The Iron Lake Campground serves as a lone point of modern congregation amidst a sprawling network of water bodies, including South Lake, North Lake, and Poplar Lake. This survey provides a precise look at the portages and trails that defined north-woods travel before more extensive modern development, including detailed soundings for many of the primary lakes.