23 Aug 2013 – Agawa Rock
Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes of N America. The lake is bounded by Ontario and Minnesota to the N and W; Wisconsin and Michigan to the S. It is generally considered the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area (31,700sq mi 82,103sq km, the size of SC) It is the world’s 3rd largest freshwater lake by vol and the largest by vol in N America.
During the Wisconsin glaciation 10,000 years ago, ice-covered the region at a thickness of 1.25mi 2km. The land contours familiar today were carved by the advance and retreat of the ice sheet. The retreat left gravel, sand, clay and boulder deposits. Glacial meltwaters gathered in the Superior basin. Without the immense weight of the ice, the land rebounded and a drainage outlet formed at Sault Ste. Marie, which would become known as St. Mary’s River.
Lake Superior Provincial Park is one of the largest provincial parks in Ontario, covering about 1,550sq km along the NE shores of Lake Superior between Wawa and SSM.
App 30mins drive north of SSM, following along the rugged shores of Lake Superior is Chippewa Falls, half way from Sault Ste Marie to Lake Superior Provincial Park…
Continuing to Pancake Bay with an accurate weather station 🙂 and craft stores geared for the tourists…
And to a mysterious trail which passes thru’ geological formations and are stepped in mythology!
Red ochre Misshepezhieu, canoe and fish tell the stories of generations of Ojibwe
The trail ends at a stone shelf that slopes into Lake Superior beneath a towering cliff that is part of the Agawa Rock. Geologically the cliff face is a fault plane and this is a sacred site.
People have been trying to interpret the pictographs for decades and up to today we still do not know the full significance of the paintings. Indeed a very interesting and inspiring encounter with nature and history here in Agawa Rock. Appreciations to Lock&May for the 1+hr drive here.
Lo! how all things fade and perish!
From the memory of old men
Pass away the great traditions,
The achievements of the warriors,
The adventure of the hunters… HW Longfellow