Flambeau Trail – Continental Divide
Iron County Heritage Area
You are now standing on the “Continental Divide”, a geological demarcation line which splits Northern Wisconsin.
North of “The Divide”, rivers flow to Lake Superior and finally to the Atlantic Ocean. These waterways are full of rapids and waterfalls, making river travel impossible. To the south, navigable rivers flow to the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico.
Long Lake is the closest inland lake to this line. Traveling the “Flambeau Trail”, Native Americans and voyagers, who had to endure the 45 mile portage from Lake Superior, could load their goods into canoes at Long Lake. From there they could take advantage of easier canoe travel on the rivers and lakes that flowed south to Lac du Flambeau and beyond.
Marker is at the intersection of U.S. 51 and Moose Lake Road, on the right when traveling south on U.S. 51.
Courtesy hmdb.org
