One of the largest 'pristine' wilderness areas in North America, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (or BWCAW, or just Boundary Waters) consists of a network of interconnected rivers and lakes in northern Minnesota and southern Canada. The main jumping-off point for the BWCAW is the small town of Ely, Minnesota. Major bodies of water include Lac La Croix and Loon Lake. Major pests include biting black flies and endless swarms of mosquitos.