The growing season ranges from 106-121 days. There are about 28 lakes in this unit that are greater than 160 acres in size. This unit is high and many rivers have their headwaters here. They include the St. Louis River, the Cloquet River, and the Whitefish River. Water flows southwest, channeled by the drumlins.
Wetlands are larger and more common in the northwest quadrant.
Mixed hardwood-pine was infrequent. Conifer swamp or bog occupied the depressions between most of the drumlins. White pine-red pine grew on the outwash plain, where it was the most common forest type. Small conifer bogs or swamps were scattered across the outwash. Aspen-birch was also present on the outwash.