Upper Tahquamenon Falls, photo by lluusz.
This photo was taken on October 16, 2005. I don’t speak Chinese, but I’m guessing this “上塔库梅珑瀑布” says something about what a glorious sight this is.
lake of the clouds, porcupine mountains
lake of the clouds, again, photo by Apparat-chik.
Sometimes I have to search and search and other times it’s just there. This photo is part of a set that wins “Best Title for October 2006” called If this isn’t “Deliverance,” then it must be Michigan UP. According to his bio, Mike is a brilliant yet reclusive volcanologist residing on my private game reserve on the Kamchatka Penninsula .. or something like that.
The DNR has information about hiking & camping in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park (aka the Porkies). You can find more about the area at the Porcupine Mountains Ontonagon Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. In its Porcupine Mountains entry, Wikipedia says that they were named by the native Ojibwa people, supposedly because their silhouette had the shape of a porcupine and that “the most striking geological feature of the Porcupine Mountains is the long basalt and conglomerate escarpment parallel to the Lake Superior shore and overlooking Lake of the Clouds, a continuation of the same copper-bearing bedrock found farther northeast on the Keweenaw Peninsula.”
The park was formed in 1945 to protect the last large stand of old-growth forest remaining in Michigan. The park has an excellent network of backcountry trails for hiking, backpacking and cross-country skiing, rustic trailside cabins, campgrounds, swimming and boating areas. The North Country Trail runs through the park.
You have to be happy that this photo is part of the Michigan in Pictures Michigan Fall Wallpaper series!
Chapel River Scene
Chapel River Scene, photo by jsorbieus.
This photo is part of a set of photos that show the beginnings of fall color on the UP’s rivers & waterfalls.
The color is coming people!
Orchestrated
Kim took this photo on Friday in the Stonington area of Michigan’s Delta County (near Escanaba in the UP). Kim has taken a ton of great pictures of rural abandonment as well!
From the Shore of McLean State Park (Keweenaw Upper Entrance Lighthouse)
From the Shore of McLean State Park, photo by Mrs. Terry.
Terry Forrest lives in Boston but has taken quite a number of photos of Michigan lighthouses. She has photos available for sale at her photography web site, and you can see a bunch more photos of this lighthouse by clicking the thumbnail below!
If you’d like to see this lighthouse up close, Keweenaw Excursions offers a boat tour of Keweenaw lighthouses.
Lighthouse expert Terry Pepper writes:
With the meteoric growth of copper mining in the Keweenaw between 1843 and 1968, increased shipping access to the twin cities of Houghton and Hancock became increasingly important. To this end, the Portage River Canal was cut through a tamarack swamp at its western end in 1860, creating a channel 10 feet deep and 80 feet wide, opening full Portage River navigation for the largest vessels of the day from western Lake Superior…For reasons as yet undetermined, the original lighthouse was replaced with the existing fifty foot square steel Art Deco style tower at the end of the breakwater in 1950.
In the photos below you can really see the Art Deco influences.
Wagner Falls
Wagner Falls 2, photo by gkretovic.
Wagner Falls is located south of Munising. The Michigan DNR page on Wagner Falls has directions and says that the falls are in a stand of virgin pine and hemlock. Click the pic below for Greg Kretovic’s Nature Set with more photos of Wagner Falls and other UP beauty.
Fayette Historic State Park
This photo of the ghost town of Fayette by Paul Rose is one of many that appears in Absolute Michigan’s profile of Fayette Historic State Park. The Fayette Townsite is located on the UP’s Lake Michigan shore and is an excellent restoration of a historic village that features 20 historic buildings against the beautiful background of Big Bay De Noc.
Morning on Mead Creek
Morning on Mead Creek, photo by alumroot.
Alan writes: Mead Creek State Forest Campground in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan Late August 1993. It was already getting cold at night which led to the lovely mist over Mead Creek. Be sure to also check out his Michigan photos – lots of cool Michigan reptiles & amphibians!
On an unrelated note (unrelated because I was not at all clever about finding a photo that would make it related), the first-ever Water Festival, a celebration of water & music happens from noon to ? in Mackinaw City. If you’re nearby, check it out!
Whitefish Point Lighthouse & The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
Whitefish Point Lighthouse, photo by heidigoseek.
Heidi writes This light, the oldest active on Lake Superior, began operating in 1849, though the present tower was constructed later. Early a stopping place for Indians, voyageurs, and Jesuit missionaries, the point marks a course change for ore boats and other ships navigating this treacherous coastline to and from St. Mary’s Canal. Since 1971 this light, fog signal, and radio beacon have been automated and controlled from Sault Ste. Marie.
The Whitefish Point Lighthouse & The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum form the premier destination for lovers of Great Lakes maritime lore. You can get much more information and many more photos at Destination: Michigan Whitefish Point Lighthouse & Museum on Absolute Michigan.
Hessel Antique Boat Show
Antique Boat Show, photo by gretchdorian.
The above photo by Gretchen Dorian is part of a great set of photos from the Hessel boat show. You can see most of them by clicking the pic above, but there’s a couple extra at her Gretchen Dorian Photography web site (click the Hessel link when you get there).
I was reminded this morning that the annual Hessel Antique Wooden Boat Show and Festival of the Arts is held every year in Hessel on the second Saturday of August (Saturday, August 12 this year).
According to the Les Cheneaux Islands Area Tourist Association:
The Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Wooden Boat Show, held each year in Hessel, Michigan, has been a center of attraction since it began in 1976. The show boasts more than 170 entries each year, and is easily the largest show featuring antique and classic wood boats.
Held in conjunction with the Antique Wooden Boat Show each year is the Festival of Arts. Artists and craftspersons display and sell a variety of gift items including photographs, paintings, pottery made with natural Upper Peninsula clay, wood toys, dolls, and many other items. Around 75 of the state’s finest artists will be showing and selling their work.
Here are a bunch more photos from the Hessel Antique Wooden Boat Show!
Michigan in Pictures 