Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, MN

The million-acre BWCAW is the most heavily used wilderness area in the US, and has been the subject of long-term studies of forest fire and windstorm impacts on boreal forests. The BWCAW was listed by National Geographic as one of the original "50 places of a lifetime."

Field crew on the way to work in a Wenonah Canoe
Field crew on the way to work in a Wenonah Canoe.  Photo: Dave Hansen, University of Minnesota.
Boreal forest on Seagull Lake partially burned by the Ham Lake Fire of 2007
Boreal forest on Seagull Lake partially burned by the Ham Lake Fire of 2007. Photo: Dave Hansen, University of Minnesota.

 

Three Mile Island in Seagull Lake covered with light green paper birch regeneration after a combination of blowdown and fire
Three Mile Island in Seagull Lake covered with light green paper birch regeneration after a combination of blowdown and fire.  Photo: Dave Hansen, University of Minnesota.