While working on a few photographs today of Lake Huron, I began to think about how different the landscape (lakescape?) and geology are between the lake’s northern and southern ends. I suppose that is to be expected for a lake that is more than 200 statute miles long. From childhood camping trips along its southern Canadian shoreline to further exploring as an adult into its northern territories to its shipwrecks at depth – I suppose I’ve seen enough to know how different it is throughout its expansive territory. Yet, I’ve really seen so little.
Lake Huron is the second largest Great Lake, the third largest freshwater lake in the world, and holds the world title for longest shorelines. A surprising statistic even to me is that it is also home to 30,000 islands! It is a popular Great Lakes trivia question – so make note. This bathymetry map from NOAA really emphasizes how much shoreline there is and geographical area there is to cover spanning Michigan and Ontario, Canada.
Given its length, Lake Huron is also a popular spot for sailboat racing, also holding claim to the world’s longest freshwater yacht race – a race ongoing every year since 1925. Last month, a 14-year-old Merritt Sellers, won while racing with her father, Scott Sellers – an impressive 33-hour journey. Not bad for Californians. 🙂
Lake Huron becomes much rockier on the shorelines in the North. Anyone visiting the Bruce Peninsula in Canada can attest to the dramatic cliffs there – it really is hard to imagine it is the same body of water. Similarly on the Northern shores in Michigan, large, pitted limestone boulders are common. Living near the southern shore, beach rock hunting is a fairly popular activity. Sometimes I wonder if the rocks found on the south end are little pieces of all the rock in the north.
These landscapes are just a small sampling of the variety to be found along the shorelines of Lake Huron. In 1872, Rev. George Grant chronicled an expedition through the Great Lakes. He wrote about Lake Superior at the time;
Those who have never seen Superior get an inadequate, even inaccurate idea, by hearing it spoken of as a ‘lake,’ and to those who have sailed over its vast extent, the word sounds ludicrous. Though its water are fresh and crystal, Superior is a sea. It breeds storms and rain and fog, like the sea. It is cold in mid-summer as the Atlantic. It is wild, masterful, and dreaded as the Black Sea.
Rev. George Monro Grant, Ocean to Ocean: Sandford Fleming’s Expedition Through Canada in 1872
I have no doubts he could have written the same words about Huron.
FEATURED IMAGE at top: Southern Lake Huron rocks and driftwood, Michigan SL10611
Wonderful photos! I’ve never seen Huron. Now I have to put it on the bucket list!
Thanks Howard. You should!
Even that bathymetry map gives you an idea of how different the shores are from the south to the north. I have never had the experience of seeing the Great Lakes and this post has stirred the desire within me. I can imagine the difference in the sounds along these shores, whether in the calm of a morning sunrise of the raging of a storm. Wonderful posting and images!!
I could say I’d offer you a tour of the lake, but as you can see – it could take like 3 weeks! 🙂
Very nice, Mark. Makes me want to visit (surprise). And since other Californians have already won that race, I can take my time to enjoy these beautiful shorelines. 😉
Well, you could always try to beat their time 🙂
Beautiful photographs, Mark, and interesting information. Even “little” Lake Erie has powerful waves, some of which I saw this past Friday.
I’ll bet! I’ve never seen Erie in a storm but heard the waves can get big because of how the lake is oriented.
That Little Cove photo is one that I can almost hear! 🙂
It was quite the storm!
You’ve collected some beautiful images of the lake, Mark. Some of us not from around the great lake area can sometimes lose sight of how large these bodies of water are. I like the power and energy depicted in the “Little Cove” photo. I hope you’re doing well.
Yea, I suppose that’s the real challenge to portray. Then again, it’s even hard to grasp the enormity of the oceans also. Thanks Earl.