WINTER AT THE GREAT LAKES

watching the ice change

By World Wild Places

November 12^th, 2017

I spend a couple of winters driving along the shores of the Great Lakes. The formations of ice are nothing like those of last year and in just hours the entire shoreline is changing after a storm. Because of this it is very exiting to come to the same areas again and compare how they change compere to your privous visit. Find out current Ice Cover Condition

Aurora over Wisconsin Lake Superior Coast

Two Harbors Breakwater Lighthouse, Minnesota

Ice columns building on the shore of Lake Superior.

In a typical winter, 30 percent of Lake Superior freezes over. In 1979 and 2014 over 90 present of the lake was frozen. Due to strong currents in the lake some areas never freeze over or do just for a short period of time.

Houghton County in Michigan is the snowiest place east of the Rockies. The heaviest winter snowfall was recorded during the 1978-1979 season with over 350 inches (9 m) of snow. In 1984-1985 snow fell for 51 days straight.

In some areas of the Great Lakes region, snow has historically fallen each month of the year. With wind chills producing temperatures as low as the -40's and up to 29 feet of snow in a 6 month season.

Miners Log Cabin in Old Victoria, Michigan

Winter vs Summer scenery at Pictured Rocks and Sleeping Bear Dunes

The Mackinac Bridge connects the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan. The total length from shoreline-to-shoreline is 5 miles (8 km). Lake Michigan/Lake Huron

Black Rocks of Presque Isle, Lake Superior

Presque Isle Harbor Breakwater Lighthouse

Great Sand Bay at Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan

Grand Traverse Bay, Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan

Weightless Tree at Little Presque Isle, Lake Superior

Ice roads on the Lakes. The first photo is the road to Madeline Island on Lake Superior, the second is from Sturgeon Bay on Lake Michigan.

Sturgeon Bay in Wisconsin, Lake Michigan

Sunrise at Lake Erie, Ohio

Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes and freezes over nearly every year.

If there is an ice accessible to the to Apostle Islands Sea Caves it is probably one of the most amazing destination during the winter on Lake Superior shore. It was possible cases them in 2009, 2014 and 2015. To Find out if there is an ice access to the caves this year click the link.