Michigan's U.P. - Nature Ahoy!

Many of you have probably heard the song, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, by Gordon Lightfoot. The story is about a real ship loaded with iron ore, whose crew lost their lives in a horrific storm. It takes place in The Great Lake, Superior. The song talks about how rough the waters can be in certain weather.

The weather can be extreme but the beauty it leaves behind is the clear sapphire and emerald waters with gorgeous multicolored rock formations. These are real treasure for sightseers, hikers, nature and/or adventure enthusiasts, and just laid back people who enjoy beauty.

With hiking and bike trails, boat rentals and charter tours, delicious food with waterfront views, nice clean accommodations, and friendly residents, how can you go wrong?

Wikipedia stated that: Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. By size it is about as large as South Carolina. It is the third largest freshwater lake by volume. If you were to pour its contents over the Americas they would be covered in about a foot of water. It is also 733 feet (223 m) below sea level, at its lowest spot.

Lake Superior obviously does not cover as much area as an ocean but you don't have to worry about jellyfish and sharks. Of course the sudden change in weather can be very frightening. It can go from a sunny cloudless sky to black clouds with thunder and lightening in seconds with no warning. The water becomes very tempestuous and your boat can get tossed around like a toy. Or worse as in the case of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

So why would anyone want to chance it? The gems of the lake. Take a look at these photos and see what you think. This is just a taste. There is so much more. The colors of the water alone are like sparkling jewels. Then add the pigmentation of mineral deposits on the shorelines and you have a bounty of nuances.

This is only one small area of Lake Superior. There is land mass surrounding it from Canada as well as the three States of the U. S.: Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. I have not visited other shores yet, so I can only tell you about this one wonderful fortune of delight, for now.

Even though they are called Pictured Rocks I always want to call them painted rocks with all of the splendid hues of browns, reds, greens, yellows, and even some blues. The rocks are decorated by the minerals that the grounds are rich in, such as; copper, iron, nickel, silver, and even some uranium. Who would have thought that metals would paint such beautiful colors on the shores of a lake?

Maybe the Native Americans as they too painted their stories on rocks in the area known now as Lake Superior Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. Many of these pictographs remain today.

As a Michigander I am happy that there are still many natural beauties left in our state. We are surrounded by four of the great lakes; Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Superior. There is a lot to do here in the summer, fall, winter, and even spring. Year round enjoyment, especially for those who love the outdoors. Snowmobiling, skiing, sledding are a few winter sports. Of course swimming, fishing, boating, and lounging on the beach in the summer. Hiking year round. Autumn offers a glorious riot of colors.

The people of the "mitten" state carry a map of our state with us at all times. So I am giving you a sample map to the right of this text, to help you find your way to Pictured Rocks. Don't miss a chance to visit and peruse the Pictured Rocks for yourself.

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