Upper Tahquamenon Falls, Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Michigan
I started the most recent installment of my photographic journey chasing waterfalls in western North Carolina, and still enjoy checking out new-to-me waterfalls during our travels. We recently stopped by Tahquamenon Falls State Park in the U.P. of Michigan to see and photograph the Upper Falls.
Tahquamenon Falls is sometimes referred to as the “root beer falls” due to the amber color of the waters caused by tannins in the cedar swamps from which the river drains. The water really does take on the cast of root beer barrel candies!
Piles of Taconite, a form of iron ore pellets used in the production of steel. Seen at the Algoma Steel Company plant located on the St. Marys River in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Canada
Kathy & I are currently on a journey through cool, comfortable Michigan. We’ve visited a number of places so I’ll likely be posting images completely out of order as I get to them!
We recently visited Sault Sainte Marie, MI and did a boat cruise (never pass up a boat cruise!) on the Soo Locks. These piles of Taconite are used in the production of steel and were waiting alongside the Algona Steel Company on the St. Marys River. The black piles made me think of the opposite of something like White Sands, NM.
Shoreline of Lake Superior from near Eagle Harbor, Michigan
Just like I occasionally need reminded to take HDR and Panorama photos, I often forget to take pictures from something other than eye, or tripod, level. On our recent visit to the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan I managed to take a few photographs from a different perspective. Having an articulating screen helps! 🙂
Shoreline of Lake Superior from near Eagle Harbor, MichiganShoreline of Lake Superior from near Eagle Harbor, MichiganShoreline of Lake Superior from near Eagle Harbor, MichiganShoreline of Lake Superior from near Eagle Harbor, MichiganShoreline of Lake Superior from near Eagle Harbor, MichiganShoreline of Lake Superior from near Eagle Harbor, MichiganRocks on the Lake Superior shoreline in Eagle Harbor, MichiganRocks on the Lake Superior shoreline in Eagle Harbor, MichiganEagle Harbor Township Recreation Area in Eagle Harbor, MichiganEagle Harbor Township Recreation Area in Eagle Harbor, MichiganLake Superior shoreline in Eagle Harbor, Michigan
US Coast Guard Lifesaving Station, now a museum, in Eagle Harbor, Michigan
When in Eagle Harbor, MI we visited this former Coast Guard Lifesaving Station that is now a museum of maritime history. Interesting place with some nicely restored boats and restored building.
US Coast Guard Lifesaving Station, now a museum, in Eagle Harbor, MichiganUS Coast Guard Lifesaving Station, now a museum, in Eagle Harbor, MichiganUS Coast Guard Lifesaving Station, now a museum, in Eagle Harbor, MichiganUS Coast Guard Lifesaving Station, now a museum, in Eagle Harbor, Michigan
The Keweenaw Snow Thermometer in Eagle River, Michigan
We visited the Keweenaw Peninsula on our recent swing through the U.P. of Michigan, and came across this “snow gauge” commemorating the record snowfall of 390 inches during the winter of 1978-1979, and also reminding us that the most recent winter saw snowfall of “only” about 270 inches. Of course that is cumulative total over the course of the winter, which runs roughly from September to May ( 😉 ), not what was on the ground at one time. But still….
The Keweenaw Snow Thermometer in Eagle River, MichiganThe Keweenaw Snow Thermometer in Eagle River, Michigan
No. 2 Shaft-Rock House at The Quincy Mine, part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park in Houghton, Michigan
Copper mining plays an integral role in the history of the Keweenaw Peninsula, and there are remains of these mines scattered throughout the land. A few of them have been partially preserved for tourism, including the Quincy Mine, part of Keweenaw National Historical Park near Houghton.
No. 2 Shaft-Rock House at The Quincy Mine, part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park in Houghton, MichiganNo. 2 Shaft-Rock House at The Quincy Mine, part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park in Houghton, MichiganNo. 2 Shaft-Rock House at The Quincy Mine, part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park in Houghton, Michigan
Kathy & I spent a few hours visiting the park and touring the buildings that are open to the public. They offer a tour into one of the mines using one of the former mining cars, but I’m a little squeamish about underground and enclosed spaces so we decided to pass. Perhaps another time, he says…. 🙂
Abandoned mining equipment at The Quincy Mine, part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park in Houghton, MichiganAbandoned mining equipment at The Quincy Mine, part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park in Houghton, MichiganAbandoned mining equipment at The Quincy Mine, part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park in Houghton, MichiganAbandoned mining equipment at The Quincy Mine, part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park in Houghton, MichiganAbandoned mining equipment at The Quincy Mine, part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park in Houghton, Michigan
The most fascinating aspect is the size of the machinery that was used to move both man, equipment and materials in and out of the mine. But they produced a lot of copper over the years the mines were in operation. Once the copper ran out, the mines were abandoned and left to the elements. Fortunately there are a few of them still remaining, as reminders of the importance of copper to the area.
No. 2 Shaft-Rock House at The Quincy Mine, part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park in Houghton, MichiganAbandoned mining equipment at The Quincy Mine, part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park in Houghton, MichiganNo. 2 Shaft-Rock House at The Quincy Mine, part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park in Houghton, MichiganModel train layout at The Quincy Mine, part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park in Houghton, MichiganModel train layout at The Quincy Mine, part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park in Houghton, MichiganModel train layout at The Quincy Mine, part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park in Houghton, Michigan
McGulpin Point Lighthouse on Lake Michigan in Mackinaw City, Michigan
I had seen on the map of Mackinaw City that there were several lighthouses along the lake front. After our time photographing the bridge, we sought a good view of the nearest one, at McGulpin Point. Unfortunately, unless you are on the water it appears the only view of the lighthouse is from the parking lot! I did manage to get my shutter finger synchronized with the light pattern, so I have a few shots with the beacon lit!
The Mackinac Bridge across the Straits of Mackinac, separating Lake Huron and Lake Michigan
In order to get to the U.P. of Michigan from Ohio we needed to either cross the Mackinac Bridge or drive through Chicago. Easy choice, right? Because our backsides get tired if we try to stretch the drive too far and we also had some other things we wanted to do on the way, we decided to find a place to stop. Looking at our options, it seemed like either Mackinaw City on the south side of the Straits of Mackinac, or St. Ignace on the north side, would be good options. We chose Mackinaw City. Note the different spellings – it can be confusing to use the right one, but they are all pronounced the same – MAC-in-aw.
The Straits of Mackinac mark the dividing line between Lake Huron on the east side and Lake Michigan on the west side.
The Mackinac Bridge across the Straits of Mackinac, separating Lake Huron and Lake MichiganThis is the same image as the one above, but I decided to try a different treatment. I thought the high key/desaturated version came out quite nice.The Mackinac Bridge across the Straits of Mackinac, separating Lake Huron and Lake MichiganThe Mackinac Bridge across the Straits of Mackinac, separating Lake Huron and Lake Michigan
We only had one evening there, and it turned out to be quite cloudy. The light was very flat and blue, but I did with it what I could. It was the first real world trial of my newly purchased tripod, and it appears to have performed quite well. I did have a few cases where the photos are blurry, but they are long exposures where I forgot to turn off my image stabilization. I know the manual says you don’t need to, that the lenses are smart enough to know, but I’ve found that to be dubious.
The Mackinac Bridge, also referred to as the Mighty Mac or Big Mac, is a suspension bridge that connects the Upper and Lower peninsulas of the U.S. state of Michigan. It spans the Straits of Mackinac, a body of water connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, two of the Great Lakes. Opened in 1957, the 26,372-foot/4.995 mi/8.038 km long bridge is the world’s 27th-longest main span and is the longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere. The Mackinac Bridge is part of Interstate 75 and the Lake Michigan and Huron components of the Great Lakes Circle Tour across the straits; it is also a segment of the U.S. North Country National Scenic Trail. The bridge connects the city of St. Ignace to the north with the village of Mackinaw City to the south.
Envisioned since the 1880s, the bridge was designed by the engineer David B. Steinman and completed in 1957 only after many decades of struggles to begin construction. The bridge has since become an iconic symbol of the state of Michigan.
The bridge opened on November 1, 1957, connecting two peninsulas linked for decades by ferries. At the time, the bridge was formally dedicated as the “world’s longest suspension bridge between anchorages”, allowing a superlative comparison to the Golden Gate Bridge, which has a longer center span between towers, and the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, which has an anchorage in the middle.
It remains the longest suspension bridge with two towers between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere. Much longer anchorage-to-anchorage spans have been built in the Eastern Hemisphere, including the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge in Japan (6,532 ft or 1,991 m), but the long leadups to the anchorages on the Mackinac make its total shoreline-to-shoreline length of 26,372 feet — 28 feet short of five miles (8.0 km) — longer than the Akashi Kaikyo (2.4 mi or 3.9 km).
The length of the bridge’s main span is 3,800 feet (1,158 m), which makes it the third-longest suspension span in the United States and 27th longest suspension span worldwide. It is also one of the world’s longest bridges overall.
The Mackinac Bridge across the Straits of Mackinac, separating Lake Huron and Lake Michigan
This photo I like very much, but I am puzzled by the trails below and to the right of all the lights. The bridge is in sharp focus, so all I can think is that the tripod must have slipped a little either at the very beginning or end of the 3 second exposure (3 seconds at f11, focal length 134.5mm) .
Sunset over Lake Superior from Eagle Harbor, Michigan
We’ve been visiting with friends Jeff & Mary Pat in Eagle Harbor, Michigan. They are blessed with this wonderful view from essentially their front yard. I braved the mosquitos for a little while to receive a few gifts of a beautiful summer sunset.
A few evenings earlier I watched an even more colorful sunset from the comfort of their living room. That night the friendship, the conversation and the bourbon made it a good place to be simply an observer, but I didn’t want to leave without at least making the attempt at a photograph or two!
Sunset over Lake Superior from Eagle Harbor, Michigan
Hog Island Country Store along US 2 near Naubinway, Michigan
We passed a number of interesting places on our drive from Mackinaw City into the Upper Peninsula. A couple of places I passed and had to turn back. The reality is not always what the mind sees at first glance, but sometimes that first glance is just right!
‘Honest Injun Tourist Trap’ at 19073 US Route 2 near Gould City, Michigan‘Honest Injun Tourist Trap’ at 19073 US Route 2 near Gould City, Michigan
