The Northwest Angle - Located on the North western part of Lake of the Woods, the Angle as it is commonly called is one of the lake most noted Muskie Fishing destinations.

It was here in the Angle on October 3 1873 that Treaty #3 was signed between the Indian Chiefs of this area and the Government Commissioners. It was also here the land toute of the Dawson Trail began. This was the first Canadian toute to the west and for 15 years it was the only means which settlers/travellers could make the venture from Thunder Bay to Winnipeg. (Fort William/Fort Garry of those times)

By the mid-1850's Canadian politicians were thinking of annexation. They therefore had to make claim to this area or the Americans would. A survery crew was sent out in 1857 to lay out the route of the Dawson Trail. In this was a series of navigable lakes and rivers ranging from 8 to 130 miles, with portages of 50 to 2-3 miles. A road was built through 60+ miles of treed land and 20 miles of prairie to Fort Garry.

Oak Island - Between Flag Is. and Birch Is.

Today this island is primarily used for those in the tourist industry. It has some of the finest fishing resorts in the immediate waters. Prior to that however commercial fisherman were the island primary tenents. Four schools were on the island and a 100-foot barge made weekly trips from Oak to Warroad laidened with their catch. Oak Island was also one of the more notorious areas for the bootlegging of whiskey across the Canadian American border.

Massacre Island - South east of Oak Island in Little Traverse.

Named for a bloody massacre in 1736 of Jean Baptiste La Verendrye, Falther Aulneau along with 19 others from Fort St. Charles. There was/is a cross erected on the highest hill to commenorate this event in history. On Canadian maps or 1905 it is indicated at Massacre Is. on US charts of that period it is Ile du Massacre.

There are many other bays, island in this area with a flamboyant history, Steamboat Is, where even today you find the boiler (submerged) in Steamboat Bay. There is the remains of a prisoner of war camp in Oak Bay just down from Wiley Point. This was camp #61 where up to 150 men during WW II were housed. Most were German navy and air force. While encamped here they were to cut a cord of wood per day or spend eight hours in the bush and were paid .50 cents per day to do so. Others built roads.

These prisoners in their spare time swam, played soccer, hunted, built boats for themselves, smoked fish, and believe it or not explored Lake of the Woods. It was closed in 1946 and the prisoners were taken to a camp in Monteith near Timmons Ontario.