Lake of the Woods

Lore & Background

The lake was known by the name Lake Minitic (from Cree and Ojibwe words meaning 'Islands in a River') as recorded by Verendrye in 1731. The French name 'lac des Bois' and its English translation 'Lake of the Woods' may have been a mistranslation of the Anishinaabe name. One current Anishinaabe name is Babiikwaawangaa-zaagaʼigan, meaning 'Lake with Uneven Sand,' referring to its sand dunes.

In the late 19th century, dams at the lake's outlets in present-day Kenora raised concerns over water levels. In 1912, the matter was referred to the International Joint Commission, which in 1917 recommended control boards. The Lake of the Woods Control Board was established by Canadian Order-in-Council in 1919, with statutory acts in 1921 (Canada) and 1922 (Ontario). The 1925 Canada/USA Convention and Protocol established an International Lake of the Woods Control Board to oversee regulation when levels exceed certain limits.

The lake's islands provide nesting habitats for piping plovers, American white pelicans, and several hundred nesting pairs of bald eagles. As recently as the early 20th century, the islands also provided calving habitat for boreal woodland caribou.

Reader's Guide

Lake of the Woods holds significance as a major freshwater resource spanning two countries and three jurisdictions. Its complex governance structure, involving Canadian and American federal governments, the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba, and multiple control boards, reflects the challenges of managing shared water resources. The lake's role in defining the international border created the Northwest Angle, a geographic anomaly that remains part of Minnesota but is accessible only by crossing the lake or traveling through Canada. The lake supports diverse wildlife, including nesting bald eagles and American white pelicans, and its many islands offer recreational opportunities such as camping, fishing, and houseboating. Tourism is a large part of the local economy, with numerous parks, resorts, and marinas. The lake also serves as the source of drinking water for the City of Winnipeg via an aqueduct from Shoal Lake, making its administration of continuing interest to multiple governments. The historical mistranslation of its Anishinaabe name and the tragic events on Massacre Island add cultural depth to its legacy.

Did You Know?

• Lake of the Woods has more than 14,552 islands and 25,000 miles of shoreline.
• The Northwest Angle, part of Minnesota, is the northernmost point of the contiguous United States and can only be reached by crossing the lake or traveling through Canada.
• The lake's name may be a mistranslation of an Anishinaabe name; one current Anishinaabe name means 'Lake with Uneven Sand.'
• The lake is the source of drinking water for Winnipeg via the Greater Winnipeg Water District Aqueduct from Shoal Lake.