The author taking in the vista on Antelope Island, Great Salt Lake

Winter at Wisconsin Point

Winter at Wisconsin Point

Words and Photography by Gary Donaldson

On a January morning, Jennifer and I wake up early and hurry to the tip of Wisconsin Point – a three mile long natural sand spit reaching out into Lake Superior and separating this great lake from the Duluth-Superior harbor. Wisconsin Point, along with its twin, Minnesota Point, make up one of the longest freshwater sandbars in the world.

The Wisconsin Point breakwater and Lighthouse on a January Morning.
The Wisconsin Point Lighthouse stands at the threshold of Superior Harbor, its red roof a beacon between cold winter sky and concrete. The breakwater draws a quiet boundary between Lake Superior and a working harbor that’s closing in with ice.

However, geography is not our focus this morning. Instead, we’re here to meet the Great Lakes Freighter, John Munson, as it comes into port for a the winter layup.

The freighter, John Munson, enters the Duluth-Superior Harbor for winter layup, her long hull easing past Wisconsin Point through the cold, gray water of Lake Superior. Built for motion and brute force, the ship slows now to an idle as it glides towards a long pause for ice.

Iron and diesel -
tools of a revolution,
give way to water

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Comments

One response to “Winter at Wisconsin Point”

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    Anonymous

    Beautiful photos!

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