In "The Song of Hiawatha," how does Henry Wadsworth Longfellow use setting to create mood?

In the epic poem, "The Song of Hiawatha", Henry Wadsworth Longfellow set in Lake Superior, or Gitche Gumee - the name he thought the Native Americans called that particular area. Even though it has strong mythic elements, it being set in a real place makes it more traditional and relatable. You can feel the real struggle of good vs evil as the events in Hiawatha's life unfurl.