About 45 minutes from my home are the shores of Lake Michigan. This is my
haven in summer, fall, winter and spring. The beauty of the lake and
landscape never ceases to amaze me.
Lake Michigan beaches, especially those beaches in Michigan and Northern Indiana, are known for their beauty and the region is often referred to as the "Third Coast" of the United States after those of the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The sand is soft and off-white, known as "singing sands" because of the squeaking noise made when one walks across it (caused by high quartz content). There are often high sand dunes covered in green beach grass and sand cherries, and the water is usually clear and cold (between 55 and 70 °F/13 and 21 °C) [1], even in late summer. Lake Michigan beaches in Northern Michigan are the only place in the world where one can find Petoskey stones, the state stone, aside from a few inland lakes in that region.
Lake Michigan has the longest stretch of freshwater dunes
on Earth. It covers 300 miles north to south and 118 miles east to
west and the shoreline passes through four states: Wisconsin, Illinois,
Indiana and Michigan. It is the fifth largest freshwater lake in the
world. Driving along Highway 12 through Indiana and Michigan, you can
find numerous beaches to sit back, relax, swim or go dune climbing.
Swimming in Lake Michigan can be dangerous at times. There is a condition
known as a "Rip Current". Rip Currents are formed when winds
cause waves to break on the shallow sandbar near the beach. The water is
pushed over the sandbar, but it has a hard time returning out to the lake.
The excess water then starts to flow back into the lake and water rushing
back into the lake "rips" an opening in the sandbar. It has been described
as pulling the plug in a bathtub. If you are swimming or standing in this
shallow water, this current can make you lose your balance and pull you under
and carry you out to deep water. The best way to get out of this current
is to float parallel to shore till you are out of the Rip Current, then swim
to shore.
The sand dunes on the Lake Michigan beaches are enormous. Definitely
a way to get your exercise. Here is a pic of one of the highest dunes (240 feet)
in Warren Dunes State Park called TOWER HILL.
How are the sand hills formed? Scientist say a huge thick river of ice helped create the Indiana dunes. Thousands of years ago this glacier moved over what is now central Indiana. As the glacier moved, heavy ice crushed rocks into very small pieces. Over time, part of the glacier became a body of water called Lake Chicago, an early version of Lake Michigan. The melting glacier dropped the sand it had created around the lake. The sands of the present-day Lake Michigan are always moving. The winds and waves of the lake carry sand to the surrounding land. Strong winds lift the sand and drop it on the land below. This process starts building new dunes.
Over time, plant life develops on these sand hills. For example, the cottonwood tree is usually first to grow on a new dune. Then the winds dig a hole in the sand. The winds use loose sand from the hole to create a large dune that moves. Such a dune can damage or destroy anything in its way. But cottonwood trees can help. The trees grow roots along their trunks as sand buries them. The cottonwood roots help hold the dune in place.
Sand dunes can only grow if plants anchor
the sand so it doesn't blow away. If sand dunes have no protection
they will move and are called wandering dunes or live dunes. As they "wander" over
the land, they bury everything in their path; trees, forests and even
cottages and roads. Nothing can stop the sand from moving. One of the
largest "live" dunes, at 123 feet, is named Mt. Baldy. This giant
dune is moving inland about 4-5 feet per year. Mt. Baldy is also called
a "smoking dune". When the sand is blowing off the top of the dune, it
appears as wisps of smoke.
Another unique characteristic of Lake Michigan sand is that it is often called the
"SINGING SANDS". The sand actually makes music if you listen as you walk across the
sands. The combination of quartz crystals, moisture, pressure and friction
from your feet creates a musical tone. There are only a few beaches worldwide that are
known to sing with this same tone.
Michigan City Harbor is practically a stones throw away. A breakwall was
build for the harbor and this breakwall is causing beach erosion along
the shoreline by Mt. Baldy. In 1974 and 1982 truckloads of sand were
brought in and in 1996 almost 75,000 cubic yards of sand was brought in
to try and preserve the beach.
Lake Michigan is a haven and if you seek beauty in its rawest form, these
beaches are where you ought to be. You can sit on the sand and listen to
the melody of the waves and the songs of the gulls and if you listen
hard enough, you can hear angel whispers in the soft, gentle breezes.
The beauty of winter is so evident here, that is if you are brave enough to weather the cold and wind chills. What really fascinates me is the "SHELF ICE" that forms along the water. It is a natural beauty and amazing
wonder to view. But, you do have to be extremely careful and not get too close to look. While the ice and snow may look solid, it does contain pockets of air or cold water
covered by a paper thin surface of ice and snow. These can easily cave in as you walk
across the shelf. These pics really do not do justice to the beauty, but at least you
can get a small idea on how it looks.
If you are into ghost stories, here is one on Diana of the Dunes
The framed photos of the beaches were taken by me in 1999.
Header made using painting by Barbara Hales.
Made for your viewing pleasure only.
If you got here via a Webring, you can click HERE to go back to my ring page.
Created 11/23/99 Updated 09/03/07
