Lake Superior is Beautiful
One of the things you learn growing up in Northern Ontario is that the province is much more geographically fascinating than what you see down south. Don’t get me wrong, the south has a lot going for it, especially around Tobermory and Collingwood. But when it comes to dramatic landscapes and natural vistas, the North has them both beat handily.
I recently drove up the coast from Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay, and took the opportunity to photograph the landscape from the passenger seat as we navigated the rugged hills and lakes of the north coast of Lake Superior.
What makes this part of the province so spectacular is its relationship with the inland ocean that is Lake Superior. Sharp cliffs are lapped by azure waters, and sights expand beyond view as the far shore falls below the horizon.
The mix of deciduous and coniferous trees makes for a tapestry of green hues that fade to blue as they blend with the sky in the distance. The concave route around the lake allows you to see layers of whats to come long before you’ve passed it.
There’s a real sense of unexpected discovery to those who haven’t made the trip in the past. It’s been about 9 years since my last time, and the sheer length of the trip (~8 hours to Thunder Bay from Sault Ste Marie) means that it takes a lot of trips to remember every detail.
Behind every turn could be a new view of the mountain you’ve been seeing the top of for the last ten minutes, or maybe a short peek at the islands along the rocky coastline. It’s an exciting journey full of hills, turns, and lookouts. For the better part of 6 hours I was taking a photo every few minutes.
Mixed in with the natural scenery is the history of human settlement and development through this rugged and unforgiving area. The railway snakes along the coast, sometimes close to the highway, and sometimes far below. You can only imaging the struggle it would have taken to build, and what it would have meant to Canada when it finally opened.
The highway itself, (Highway 17) is a feat of engineering. No expense was spared in the name of speed and comfort, as human made canyons slice their way through the igneous Canadian Shield. Blasting is heavily used to shaped the road, and the rock is then crushed to make embankments and smooth out the pitches. For all the rugged and sharp terrain, the steepest hill is only a 7% gradient.
I’ve taken a few screenshots from an online dynamic topographic map to show you how the coastline really is as dramatic as I’m describing.
The area between Neys and Pays Plat is nothing short of jaw dropping.
For a sense of scale, the little red section in the above photo where it says Silver Islet is the Sleeping Giant. Just the red section.
That’s the Sleeping Giant, and here is a commercial freighter for scale.
The sleeping giant rises to an elevation 555m above sea level, and Lake Superior sits at 183m. That means it rises 372m, or 1220 feet straight out of the water. It’s quite the impressive rock. Now scroll back up and look at the colours and height labels for the land form around the lake. You should be able to get a sense for how dramatic and awe inspiring the region can be.
Before I finish off with the rest of the photos I took, I want to encourage you to take any opportunity you have to make this drive yourself. (Don’t take the bus, it either won’t go this way, or won’t stop at the lookouts.) If you do, you will agree that this drive is THE hidden gem of Ontario. Bring your camera, give yourself lots of time, and prepare for any weather. Lake Superior is known for having it’s own mind when it comes to the forecast, so be prepared. But with any luck, you will be rewarded with views and memories you won’t soon forget.
Thanks for reading/viewing my post, I hope you’re pleasantly surprised by this underrated landscaped that I feel deserves some serious attention.
If you liked these photos, please check out my main gallery on my front page, and subscribe to keep up with my future posts! I sell all of my photos, so if you’d like something for your living room, office, or cottage, send me a message and I’ll happily set that up for you. I shoot everything in the highest quality possible so everything can be a wallpaper. Some of my photos are already available through my shop, but if you see something that isn’t for sale I’d be happy to make that happen for you.
One last photo before you go: here’s Mount McKay in Thunder Bay, which forms a beautiful backdrop to the city, and really makes me appreciate the beauty of nature every time I see it.
Until next time, peace.
Shot with Canon Rebel T6S with Tamron 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 SP.