Brule Lake (Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brule Lake |
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 Brule Lake
Location in Minnesota
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| Location | Cook County, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 47°56′25″N 90°40′56″W / 47.94028°N 90.68222°W |
| Primary outflows | Temperance River, Brule River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 4,272 acres (17 km2) |
| Max. depth | 78 ft (24 m) |
| Surface elevation | 1,851 ft (564 m) |
Brule Lake is a beautiful lake located in Cook County, Minnesota. It's a very long and narrow lake, stretching much further from east to west than from north to south. This is because it sits between two long, flat rock formations called sills.
Two rivers flow out of Brule Lake: the Temperance River and the South Brule River. The South Brule is a branch of the Brule River. In the early 1900s, a lot of trees were cut down around Brule Lake. A big forest fire, named after the lake, burned the area in 1929. Today, Brule Lake is a protected part of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. This is a special wilderness area, and Brule Lake is a popular entry point for visitors.
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Exploring Brule Lake's Geography
Brule Lake is one of the biggest lakes in the eastern part of Minnesota's Arrowhead Region. It covers about 4,272 acres and is 78 feet deep at its deepest point. The lake sits 1,851 feet above sea level. It stretches about eight miles from east to west but is only about one mile wide from north to south.
How Brule Lake Was Formed
Brule Lake is located in a special geological area called the Duluth Complex. This area has bands of softer rock that wear away easily and harder "red rock." The harder red rock forms ridges that stick out across the land. Around Brule Lake, these ridges run almost perfectly east to west. Long, thin lakes like Brule Lake formed in the valleys between these ridges.
The valley where Brule Lake lies is surrounded by hills. To the north are the Misquah Hills, and to the south is another ridge topped by Brule Mountain. Even though these points are only four miles apart, the valley is 600 feet deep. Brule Mountain, Misquah Hill, and Eagle Mountain are all tall, rocky hills that stand out around Brule Lake. For a while, people thought Misquah Hill was the highest point in Minnesota. But in 1961, surveys showed that Eagle Mountain was actually 74 feet taller.
Rivers Flowing from Brule Lake
Brule Lake is the starting point for both the Temperance River and the South Brule River. The Temperance River flows out from the west side of the lake. It travels about 30 miles before joining Lake Superior near Tofte. The South Brule River flows from the east side of the lake. It travels about 40 miles before reaching Lake Superior. The Temperance and Brule rivers have some of the largest areas that collect water for streams flowing into Lake Superior in Minnesota.
Animals and Plants of Brule Lake
Brule Lake is home to many kinds of fish and wildlife.
Fish in Brule Lake
Before 1985, people added walleye fish to Brule Lake. Now, the walleye population can take care of itself. There aren't many small yellow perch in Brule Lake, which walleye usually eat when they are young. But once walleye grow bigger, they can eat the lake's larger population of cisco fish. You can also find Northern pike and smallmouth bass in Brule Lake, which are popular for fishing. A survey in 2009 also found white sucker fish.
Wildlife Around the Lake
In 1926, a survey of the Brule and Winchell lake areas was done. It showed that there were many moose living there. There were also some deer, along with timber wolves, foxes, and mink. They even found the tracks of a Canadian lynx!
People and Brule Lake's History
People have lived in the Brule Lake region since the last ice age ended. Over time, different groups have called this land home. These include the Dakota, Cree, and Ojibwa tribes. Later, the French, British, and Americans also had control of the area.
Logging and Railroads
Brule Lake didn't see much development until a railroad was built. This made it easier for loggers to reach the thick pine forests of the Arrowhead region. In 1893, a survey of the area was done by Ulysses S. Grant II and Newton Horace Winchell. They measured the lake's elevation and the height of many hills around it.
In 1898, the Duluth and Northern Minnesota Railroad opened. It helped the Alger, Smith Company, a logging business. Eventually, a special branch of this railroad was built right to Brule Lake. Around 1920, the General Logging Company bought the rights to cut down white pine trees near Brule Lake. However, rules about cleaning up leftover tree branches were not followed well. This made the risk of forest fires much higher.
The Brule Lake Fire
On July 22, 1929, a fire started between Brule Lake and Star Lake. Twenty-one days later, this fire, known as the Brule Lake Fire, had burned 25,708 acres of forest. It cost $20,000 to put out. This event showed that the United States Forest Service needed better ways to fight fires in the region.
After the logging industry declined between 1920 and 1940, many logging railroads were taken apart. This included the Alger line. The old railroad path was taken over by the county. Now, it's a gravel road called "The Grade." This road is the only way for cars and trucks to reach Brule Lake.
Changes to the Lake's Water Flow
In 1925, someone illegally blasted a 112-foot-long canal between Brule Lake and the South Brule River. At the same time, a dam was built to block the lake's natural flow into the Temperance River. These changes were later fixed using rocks, brush, and cement.
During the 1920s, a man named Edward Wellington Backus was trying to build dams to create electricity on rivers in northern Minnesota. The blasting was probably connected to these plans. Some people think land speculators did it to make buyers believe Brule Lake had enough water for hydroelectric power. Others blame employees of a local development company with the same goal.
Protecting Brule Lake
Over time, Brule Lake and the land around it became protected by the government. It is now part of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. In 1964, the United States government passed the Wilderness Act. This law made the Boundary Waters Canoe Area a special wilderness area with strict conservation rules.
Lakes like Brule, where motorboats had been used before, were allowed to continue using motors for a while. Because there was a resort on Brule Lake's shores, motorboats with small engines (under 10 horsepower) were allowed until 1994 or until the resort closed. Since the resort is now closed, Brule Lake is only open to boats that don't use motors, like canoes and kayaks.
