MinersCastleSunset, photo by Rich Wyllis
Rich took this great shot a couple of evenings ago at Miner’s Castle in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. In April of 2006 the right turret fell into the water, and you can see many pics from before and after on Michigan in Pictures.
Check this out bigger and see some stunning photography from here and elsewhere in Rich’s The UP slideshow.
Passing Through, photo by Kim.Kozlowski
The Mackinac Bridge is without doubt Michigan’s most iconic structure. Beyond being the 3rd longest suspension bridge in the world, this bridge joined Michigan’s Upper & Lower Peninsulas in a way that the ferry at the Straits of Mackinac never could.
Here’s a few facts about this amazing structure!
The USCGC Icebreaker Mackinaw at Cheboygan HDR, photo by hz536n/George Thomas
The United States Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw (WLBB 30) has its 6th birthday tomorrow. MightyMac.org has this to say about the United States Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw:
Commissioned June 10, 2006 Mackinaw (WLBB 30) assumed the “Mackinaw” name and heritage and now stands as the largest United States Coast Guard Cutter on the Great Lakes. WLBB 30 is configured to better handle a variety of roles including buoy maintenance, and handling of environmental spills.
The Mackinaw is powered by 3 Caterpillar 3612 Turbocharged V-12 engines – 3360 KW each. Prolusion comes from 2 ABB azimuthing electric propulsion drives where the propulsion motor is installed inside a submerged azimuthing (unlimited 360 degrees) pod and coupled directly to an extremely short propeller shaft.
Click for more including lots of photos, and definitely don’t miss this sweet panoramic tour of the Mackinaw. You can see the Mackinaw every year at the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival (July 27 – August 5, 2012). Her predecessor is now the Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum in Mackinaw City. Michigan in Pictures has more about icebreakers on the Great Lakes and you can also see a video of the Mackinaw at work from Boatnerd on YouTube.
Check this out big as a boat and see more in George’s massive Photomatix HDR slideshow.
More Michigan ships & boats on Michigan in Pictures.
I’ll Fly To You, photo by J.M.Barclay
Check this out bigger and see more from the circus in his slideshow. You can also check out his work on Facebook.
More black & white photography on Michigan in Pictures.
Tunnel of Trees Ferguson Slough Trail, photo by DTWpuck
Scott wonders who in Michigan doesn’t get weak in the knees when looking down a tree canopied road or trail. This trail is located alongside the Ferguson Slough in the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge.
Check it out background bigtacular and see more on his map.
Untitled (Venus Transit), photo by ahknaten
Normally, I’m up on celestial viewing opportunities, but somehow I totally missed yesterday’s transit of Venus, the very rare occurrence of Venus passing directly between earth and the sun. The Kalamazoo News has a cool feature on the viewing of yesterday’s Venus transit that explains:
Tuesday’s transit marked the second and last time it will happen in the 21st century, with the first being on June 8, 2004. The transit was visible just after 6 until about 9 p.m. on Tuesday.
The historical speck on the sun won’t be seen in earth’s sky again until 2117.
…”Hundreds of years ago they figured out the size of the solar system based on the transit by using math to calculate the size of the sun in relation to Venus. Today is about what it gave to early astronomers.” (Kalamazoo Valley Museum Director Bill McElhone)
NASA notes that transits are still used to gain information from distant solar systems. Check out a ton of great photos in NASA’s Venus Transit Challenge group and don’t miss Brad Worrell’s The Sustainer slideshow!
See this photo bigger and see more in Kai’s Venus Transit slideshow.
curwood castle, photo by LightuptheDarkn3ss
This weekend (June 7-10) Owosso holds their annual Curwood Festival honoring Michigan author James Oliver Curwood. The Shiawasse District Library says that James Oliver Curwood was born in Owosso, Michigan on June 12, 1878. He was in the University of Michigan journalism program for 2 years before quitting to become a reporter for the Detroit News-Tribune. Wikipedia’s entry on James Oliver Curwood says that:
By 1909 he had saved enough money to travel to the Canadian northwest, a trip that provided the inspiration for his wilderness adventure stories. The success of his novels afforded him the opportunity to return to the Yukon and Alaska for several months each year that allowed him to write more than thirty such books.
By 1922, Curwood’s writings had made him a very wealthy man and he fulfilled a childhood fantasy by building Curwood Castle in Owosso. Constructed in the style of an 18th century French chateau, the estate overlooked the Shiawassee River. In one of the homes’ two large turrets, Curwood set up his writing studio. He also owned a camp in a remote area in Baraga County, Michigan, near the Huron Mountains as well as a cabin in Roscommon, Michigan.
Curwood was an avid hunter in his youth; however, as he grew older, he became an advocate of environmentalism and was appointed to the Michigan Conservation Commission in 1926. The change in his attitude toward wildlife can be best expressed by a quote from The Grizzly King: “The greatest thrill is not to kill but to let live.”
Nearly 100 films were made from his books. You can visit Curwood Castle Museum in Owosso and definitely have a look at this great video from Michigan Magazine TV on Curwood and his castle.
Check this out bigger and also see LightuptheDarkn3ss’s Flickriver.
Also see the Curwood Castle slideshow in the Absolute Michigan pool and lots more Michigan history on Michigan in Pictures!
June 12 Moon, photo by ShaneWyatt
June’s moon is full today (June 4, 2012) at 11:12 am. The Farmer’s Almanac page on Full Moon names says the Strawberry Moon was universal to every Algonquin tribe because the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries comes each year during the month of June. In colonial times and in Europe they knew it as the Rose Moon. Other names include Lotus Moon (Chinese), the Moon of Horses (Celtic) and the Dyan Moon (Medieval England).
Check this out on black and see more in Shane’s moon slideshow.
“June is bustin’ out all over.”
~ Oscar Hammerstein II, 1945
We’ve posted our June Michigan Event Calendar on Absolute Michigan. It’s packed full of all kinds of ways to bust out in June. I’m betting we missed some fun ones, so please share your favorite June events in the comments!
One of the events we do have is the annual Mackinac Island Lilac Festival, a celebration of lilacs and Mackinac Island that runs June 8-17th. While March’s crazy weather pushed lilacs elsewhere, the unique climate of Mackinac Island coupled with a cold snap has slowed lilacs down so that they’ll have them there. Check their Facebook page for updates and more photos.
Another microclimate where lilacs are still in force are the Les Cheneaux Islands, an archipelago of 36 islands east of the Straits of Mackinac. See this photo bigger, in Suzy’s slideshow or check it out in the Les Cheneaux Islands group!
Wagner Falls, photo by karstenphoto
The Michigan DNR reports that fire crews are making good progress on the Duck Lake Fire in Luce County and that campgrounds, state parks, resorts and other businesses throughout the region and the Upper Peninsula are ready & waiting to deliver Pure Michigan fun! Tahquamenon Falls State Park was completely untouched and the Upper Falls viewing area and Lower Falls campground and visitor center are open. The fire itself isn’t putting up a smoke plume, it’s in a remote area and there hasn’t been significant activity since Monday.
One of the main businesses of the Upper Peninsula is tourism, and waterfalls like this are one of the draws. GoWaterfalling says that Wagner Falls is located south of Munising. It has its own state scenic site and after a short & pleasant boardwalk, you get to see this pretty waterfall!
Check this out background bigtacular and see more in Steven’s falls slideshow.
Michigan in Pictures 