Huron Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Huron Mountains are located in the Upper Peninsula
of the U.S. state
of Michigan
, mostly in Marquette
and Baraga
counties, overlooking Lake Superior
. Their highest peak is Mount Arvon
which, at 1979 feet (603 m) above sea level
, is the highest point in the state of Michigan. Nearby Mt. Curwood (Michigans second highest mountain at 1978 feet (603 m)) is also a part of the Huron Mountains.
period, which have gone through successive periods of uplift and erosion. The outcroppings of granite
and metamorphic rock
s bear the evidence of more recent glacial
action. Geologically, the area is part of the Canadian shield
.
The region is subject to heavy Lake-effect snow from Lake Superior. No official weather records are maintained in the mountains, but annual snowfall averages easily exceed 200 inches (508 cm) across the entire range. Some higher elevations probably average over 250 inches (635 cm). A community called Herman receives an unofficial average of 236 inches (599.4 cm) per season.
vegetation and unusually diverse and pristine habitats
. It includes one of the largest remnants of substantially undisturbed old-growth forest in the upper Great Lakes region (including the Porcupine Mountains
, the Sylvania Tract, and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area). Forests on the uplands are dominated by hemlock
and northern hardwood
s. Forests on the steep slopes and mountain ridges are dominated by pine
-oak
stands.
Fauna in the area includes wolves, moose, coyotes, fisher, marten, mink, white-tailed deer, gray and red foxes, porcupines, black bears, river otters and beavers.
(HMC), which owns a large tract of land in the mountains, including a portion of the Salmon Trout River
. The club commissioned noted naturalist Aldo Leopold
to create a preservation plan for the area. However, the private club also restricts access to its property, which is unfortunate for white water rafting enthusiasts since the Salmon Trout is rumored to be one of the best rafting rivers in Michigan. The exclusive club even put Henry Ford
on a waiting list. Reportedly, in order to gain favor with the club, Ford blocked the construction of a planned extension of highway M-35
through the mountains. After gaining membership, Ford commissioned noted architect Albert Kahn in 1929 to build a $100,000 cabin for his use.
The Huron Mountain Wildlife Foundation
sponsors natural science research in the region, including the HMC lands.
In the late 1950s, the Huron Mountains were a candidate for becoming a national park
. However, the HMC was influential in undermining the proposal.
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the northern of the two major land masses that make up the U.S. state of Michigan. It is commonly referred to as the Upper Peninsula, the U.P., or Upper Michigan. It is also known as the land "above the Bridge" linking the two peninsulas. The peninsula is bounded...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, mostly in Marquette
Marquette County, Michigan
-National protected areas:* Hiawatha National Forest * Huron National Wildlife Refuge* Ottawa National Forest -University:Northern Michigan University is a four-year university, established in 1899, located in Marquette, Michigan, on Michigan's Upper Peninsula...
and Baraga
Baraga County, Michigan
-National protected areas:* Keweenaw National Historical Park * Ottawa National Forest -Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 8,746 people, 3,353 households, and 2,223 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 4,631 housing units...
counties, overlooking Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
. Their highest peak is Mount Arvon
Mount Arvon
Mount Arvon, elevation 1,979 feet , located in L'Anse Township, Baraga County, is the highest natural point in the U.S. state of Michigan. Like nearby Arvon Township, Michigan, Mt. Arvon takes its name from the deposits of slate in the area which were reminiscent of those around Caernarfon in...
which, at 1979 feet (603 m) above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
, is the highest point in the state of Michigan. Nearby Mt. Curwood (Michigans second highest mountain at 1978 feet (603 m)) is also a part of the Huron Mountains.
Geology
The mountains are the remnants of much higher peaks, composed of rocks dating back to the PrecambrianPrecambrian
The Precambrian is the name which describes the large span of time in Earth's history before the current Phanerozoic Eon, and is a Supereon divided into several eons of the geologic time scale...
period, which have gone through successive periods of uplift and erosion. The outcroppings of granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
and metamorphic rock
Metamorphic rock
Metamorphic rock is the transformation of an existing rock type, the protolith, in a process called metamorphism, which means "change in form". The protolith is subjected to heat and pressure causing profound physical and/or chemical change...
s bear the evidence of more recent glacial
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
action. Geologically, the area is part of the Canadian shield
Canadian Shield
The Canadian Shield, also called the Laurentian Plateau, or Bouclier Canadien , is a vast geological shield covered by a thin layer of soil that forms the nucleus of the North American or Laurentia craton. It is an area mostly composed of igneous rock which relates to its long volcanic history...
.
The region is subject to heavy Lake-effect snow from Lake Superior. No official weather records are maintained in the mountains, but annual snowfall averages easily exceed 200 inches (508 cm) across the entire range. Some higher elevations probably average over 250 inches (635 cm). A community called Herman receives an unofficial average of 236 inches (599.4 cm) per season.
Ecology
The region is characterized by its borealBoreal ecosystem
The term boreal is usually applied to ecosystems localized in subarctic and subantarctic zones, although Austral is also used for the latter....
vegetation and unusually diverse and pristine habitats
Habitat (ecology)
A habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant or other type of organism...
. It includes one of the largest remnants of substantially undisturbed old-growth forest in the upper Great Lakes region (including the Porcupine Mountains
Porcupine Mountains
The Porcupine Mountains, or Porkies, are a group of small mountains spanning across the northwestern Upper Peninsula of Michigan in Ontonagon and Gogebic counties, near the shore of Lake Superior. The area is part of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park...
, the Sylvania Tract, and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area). Forests on the uplands are dominated by hemlock
Conium
Conium is a genus of two species of highly poisonous perennial herbaceous flowering plants in the family Apiaceae, native to Europe and the Mediterranean region as Conium maculatum, and to southern Africa as Conium chaerophylloides....
and northern hardwood
Hardwood
Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees . It may also be used for those trees themselves: these are usually broad-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen.Hardwood contrasts with softwood...
s. Forests on the steep slopes and mountain ridges are dominated by pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
-oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
stands.
Fauna in the area includes wolves, moose, coyotes, fisher, marten, mink, white-tailed deer, gray and red foxes, porcupines, black bears, river otters and beavers.
Conservation
The area has been preserved largely due to the influence of the highly exclusive Huron Mountain ClubHuron Mountain Club
The Huron Mountain Club is a private club whose land holdings, located in Marquette County, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, constitute one of the largest tracts of primeval forest in the Great Lakes region. Formed circa 1890, the club consists of 50 dwellings clustered inside about of private...
(HMC), which owns a large tract of land in the mountains, including a portion of the Salmon Trout River
Salmon Trout River
There are two streams named Salmon Trout River in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan.-Marquette County:Salmon Trout River in the Huron Mountains of Marquette County is home to the endangered "coaster" brook trout. The river flows into Lake Superior several miles northwest of Big Bay...
. The club commissioned noted naturalist Aldo Leopold
Aldo Leopold
Aldo Leopold was an American author, scientist, ecologist, forester, and environmentalist. He was a professor at the University of Wisconsin and is best known for his book A Sand County Almanac , which has sold over two million copies...
to create a preservation plan for the area. However, the private club also restricts access to its property, which is unfortunate for white water rafting enthusiasts since the Salmon Trout is rumored to be one of the best rafting rivers in Michigan. The exclusive club even put Henry Ford
Henry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
on a waiting list. Reportedly, in order to gain favor with the club, Ford blocked the construction of a planned extension of highway M-35
M-35 (Michigan highway)
M-35 is a state trunkline highway in the Upper Peninsula of the US state of Michigan. Running for in a general north–south direction, it connects the cities of Menominee, Escanaba and Negaunee. The southern section of M-35 in Menominee and Delta counties carries two additional designations...
through the mountains. After gaining membership, Ford commissioned noted architect Albert Kahn in 1929 to build a $100,000 cabin for his use.
The Huron Mountain Wildlife Foundation
Huron Mountain Wildlife Foundation
The Huron Mountain Wildlife Foundation is a not-for-profit organization with the sole mission of supporting research in ecology, geology, and other field sciences in the Lake Superior region...
sponsors natural science research in the region, including the HMC lands.
In the late 1950s, the Huron Mountains were a candidate for becoming a national park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
. However, the HMC was influential in undermining the proposal.