2017 Map of Zahl

About this map

Lake Zahl dominates this portion of the northwestern North Dakota landscape, providing a central hydrographic focus for the surrounding prairie of Williams County. The small settlement of Zahl sits just northwest of the lake, marked by its local Po and a grid of streets including Washburn St and 1st St E. This area is defined by its transition between upland coulees and wetland basins, where drainage features like Pats Coulee and Smoky Cr lead toward the meandering Little Muddy River. The map illustrates a strictly organized rural section-line road network, such as Co Hwy 12 and Co Rd 3, which segment the terrain into the systematic townships and ranges characteristic of the Great Plains. Water bodies like Shirley Lake further emphasize the importance of these prairie potholes to the local ecosystem and historical land use patterns.