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| In these photos we have the
famous Goosberry Falls along the North Shore of Lake Superior.
There are a few requirements to get waterfalls. The first is a dramatic
change in elevation. This change is provided by the isostatic
adjustment of the continental plate after the melting of the
glacier. The crust of the earth is floating in the mantle of the
earth much as a boat will float in a lake. Just like the boat, if you
remove weight it will float higher. Along the north shore the weight of
the glacier has been removed and the crust is rising. The effect is
greater the further north one moves along the North Shore because the
ice from the glacier was thicker at Grand Rapids than at Duluth. A second requirement is a coat of hard rock over softer rock. Like at the Pigeon River the falls at Gooseberry here (and at Tetegouche further below) there is a layer of igneous rock over softer slate. When the river erodes slowly to the bottom of the igneous rock and reaches the soft slate, the slate erodes quickly causing a fast drop in the level. When the water gets to hard rock again it hits the "bottom" of the falls. |
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Palisade Point at Tetegouche State Park is the highest point
above Lake Superior. The vertical joints in the rock happen because the
rock shrinks as it cools very similar to the way the ice on many lakes
crack when the weather turns colder. This combined with the effects of
wave erosion causes the spectacular cliffs. At the bottom of the cliff
you should be able to see a sea cave. The cave is caused by waves
carrying sediments that act like a sandblaster to remove the
rock. The cave height is limited by the height of the waves. |
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When the waves make the cave go all the way through the point
a sea arch is formed. If the top of the arch collapses the spire of
rock out from the point that remains is called a sea stack. |
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The High Falls at Tetegouche
State Park are the highest that are totally within the State of
Minnesota. If you would like to see some grand waterfalls without the
big crowds of people you should check out these. It is not much further
to drive along the North Shore. I think that the major reason there are
not so many people here is the walk of about 1.5 miles to get to the
falls. It is a well marked and groomed trail. The steep sections have
wooden steps and handrails. In my opinion, a great sight for a little
work. |
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