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You can sit at the dock of the bay ... or find your own spot. The Copper Country Trail can take you along 165 miles of shoreline on the world’s largest freshwater lake (31,700 square miles) and provide access to thousands of acres of woodlands and rugged landscape.
Flora & Fauna
Forests provide both natural beauty and livelihood. Prior to settlement, the region’s forests were a mix of northern hardwoods and softwoods, with maple, birch, and hemlock predominant. Pure or nearly pure stands of pine, primarily white pine, occurred at numerous locations.Extensive logging over the years, subsequent fires, and interludes of farming have altered the composition of the forests in the region. The mixed northern hardwood and hemlock forests more closely resemble their pre-settlement counterparts. However, the pine forests have largely been replaced by aspen and birch, jack pine, or open field. The Estivant Pines near Copper Harbor provide a virgin white pine forest accissble to hikers (with just a moderate level of difficulty.In mid-summer to early fall, the Keweenaw is thick with berries and berry pickers, making for delicious weekend outings. Mushroom hunters also find many varieties of fungi in the area.
Wildlife and Recreation
Fishing and hunting are popular recreation activities in the Keweenaw. Wildlife viewing, especially bird watching, is also a large draw, as the Keweenaw is a major stopping point for many birds, including thousands of hawks, during spring and fall migration periods.Typical wildlife species include waterfowl, birds, big game and small game Fish species include trout, salmon whitefish and walleye.
Geologic Features
The topography of the Keweenaw is characterized by rolling terain to rugged hills and cliffs. You can quickly climb from lake level (602 feet) to the top of one of "mounts" at almost 1900 feet. The Keweenaw Fault, a major geologic feature, bisects the peninsula on a northeast-southwest line running from the tip near Copper Harbor through Houghton County to the Michigan-Wisconsin border north of Ironwood.
The area includes 165 miles of Lake Superior coastline and 96 miles of coastline on the Keweenaw Waterway, many inland lakes, and miles of rivers and streams. These rivers and streams make up portions of several major watersheds.
The Keweenaw’s geologic diversity is one of its most outstanding scenic attractions, with the great ridges of ancient Precambrian rock offering magnificent views of the peninsula and Lake Superior.
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