Bear Island (Minnesota)
Encyclopedia
Bear Island is an island in Bear Island Lake, which is about 15 miles (24.1 km) southwest of Ely
in the U.S.
state of Minnesota
. The lake measures 2351 acres (9.5 km²), or about 2 miles (3.2 km) by 4 miles (6.4 km). In addition to Bear Island, which is by far the largest and sits right in the middle of the lake, there are at least 20 other islands in the lake. The shoreline of the natural glacial lake
is about two-thirds state and national forest, including Bear Island State Forest
. While deep in parts, several shallow bays and natural sand beaches make it a popular swimming spot.
, northern pike
, smallmouth bass
, largemouth bass
, crappie
, bluegill
, sunfish
, pumpkinseed
and perch
. The major inlet for Bear Island Lake is the Beaver River, which has rapids and beaver dams that limit fish movement. The lake's major outlet is Bear Island River
, which has an old dam that also limits fish movement at low water. Aquatic plants grow to a depth of 7 feet (2.1 m) and are sparse along most of the shoreline of Bear Island Lake.
, with a pinic rock along the trail to Perch Lake, and another section that follows the shoreline of Bear Island Lake.
, along with Big Island, which is in nearby Eagles Nest Lake, which is actually three separate lakes named No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3. Farther north, along the Canadian border, is Round Bear Island, which is in Kabetogama Lake and is part of Voyageurs National Park
. Finally, there is White Bear Lake
, which is the name of a city and lake northeast of Minneapolis.
Ely, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,724 people, 1,912 households, and 916 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,369.5 people per square mile . There were 1,912 housing units at an average density of 703.2 per square mile...
in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. The lake measures 2351 acres (9.5 km²), or about 2 miles (3.2 km) by 4 miles (6.4 km). In addition to Bear Island, which is by far the largest and sits right in the middle of the lake, there are at least 20 other islands in the lake. The shoreline of the natural glacial lake
Glacial lake
A glacial lake is a lake with origins in a melted glacier. Near the end of the last glacial period, roughly 10,000 years ago, glaciers began to retreat. A retreating glacier often left behind large deposits of ice in hollows between drumlins or hills. As the ice age ended, these melted to create...
is about two-thirds state and national forest, including Bear Island State Forest
Bear Island State Forest
The Bear Island State Forest is a state forest bordered by the towns of Ely, Babbitt, and Tower in Lake and St. Louis counties in Minnesota. It is adjacent to the Burntside State Forest and the federally-managed Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness...
. While deep in parts, several shallow bays and natural sand beaches make it a popular swimming spot.
Fishing
The lake is a naturally self-sustaining lake and includes a large variety of fish, such as walleyeWalleye
Walleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European pikeperch...
, northern pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
, smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
The smallmouth bass is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of the order Perciformes. It is the type species of its genus...
, largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
The largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
, crappie
Crappie
Crappie is a genus of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of order Perciformes. The type species is P. annularis, the white crappie...
, bluegill
Bluegill
The Bluegill is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or copper nose. It is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes.-Range and distribution:...
, sunfish
Centrarchidae
The sunfishes are a family of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the order Perciformes. The type genus is Centrarchus . The family's 27 species includes many fishes familiar to North Americans, including the rock bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and crappies...
, pumpkinseed
Pumpkinseed
The pumpkinseed sunfish is a freshwater fish of the sunfish family of order Perciformes. It is also referred to as "pond perch", "common sunfish", "punkys", and "sunny".-Range and distribution:...
and perch
Yellow perch
The yellow perch is a species of perch found in the United States and Canada, where it is often referred to by the shortform perch. Yellow perch look similar to the European perch, but are paler and more yellowish, with less red in the fins. They have six to eight dark, vertical bars on their sides...
. The major inlet for Bear Island Lake is the Beaver River, which has rapids and beaver dams that limit fish movement. The lake's major outlet is Bear Island River
Bear Island River
-See also:*List of rivers of Minnesota-References:**USGS Hydrologic Unit Map - State of Minnesota...
, which has an old dam that also limits fish movement at low water. Aquatic plants grow to a depth of 7 feet (2.1 m) and are sparse along most of the shoreline of Bear Island Lake.
Skiing
The Bear Island Ski Trail contains 10 miles (16.1 km) of groomed cross country trails. This two-section trail system winds through Superior National ForestSuperior National Forest
Superior National Forest, part of the United States National Forest system, is located in the Arrowhead Region of the state of Minnesota between the Canada – United States border and the north shore of Lake Superior...
, with a pinic rock along the trail to Perch Lake, and another section that follows the shoreline of Bear Island Lake.
Other Places
Another nearby lake is called Bear Head Lake and is part of Bear Head Lake State ParkBear Head Lake State Park
Bear Head Lake State Park is a state park in northern Minnesota, USA, near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in St. Louis County.In September 2010, Bear Head Lake State Park was voted "America's Favorite Park" in an online poll run by Coca-Cola. The Minnesota Department of Natural...
, along with Big Island, which is in nearby Eagles Nest Lake, which is actually three separate lakes named No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3. Farther north, along the Canadian border, is Round Bear Island, which is in Kabetogama Lake and is part of Voyageurs National Park
Voyageurs National Park
Voyageurs National Park is a United States National Park in northern Minnesota near the town of International Falls. It was established in 1975. The park's name commemorates the voyageurs, French-Canadian fur traders who were the first European settlers to frequently travel through the area...
. Finally, there is White Bear Lake
White Bear Lake, Minnesota
White Bear Lake is a city in Ramsey and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 23,797 at the 2010 census. The city is located on White Bear Lake, one of the largest lakes in the Minneapolis-St...
, which is the name of a city and lake northeast of Minneapolis.