Munising Rear Range Light
Encyclopedia
The Munising Rear Range Light works with the Munising Front Range Light
to project a line of light out into Lake Superior
in order to guide boats from the open lake into the safe harbor at Munising, Michigan
. This harbor is a natural bay (thus providing protection from easterly or westerly storms) and sheltered on the north by Grand Island
. Grand Island however provides a serious navigation hazard, and as boats navigate in the East Channel, there are several dangerous rock ledges that will sink the unwary captain. This pair of range lights replaced the ineffective Grand Island East Channel Light
in 1905. The history of these lighthouse
s is documented by Terry Pepper and is not reproduced here.
The light is located on the hill south of the village of Munising. It is only a 15 feet (4.6 m) steel tower, but located up on the hill, it is 107 feet (32.6 m) above the lake level. It contains an incandescent electric light inside a red shield.
Munising Front Range Light
The Munising Front Range Light and its matching Munising Rear Range Light replaced the ineffective Grand Island East Channel Light in 1905. These two lights combine to guide boats from the open waters of Lake Superior down the East Channel next to Grand Island into the harbor of Munising...
to project a line of light out into 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...
in order to guide boats from the open lake into the safe harbor at Munising, Michigan
Munising, Michigan
Munising is a city on the southern shore of Lake Superior on the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 2,539. It is the county seat of Alger County...
. This harbor is a natural bay (thus providing protection from easterly or westerly storms) and sheltered on the north by Grand Island
Grand Island
-Places:In Canada:*Grand Island in Balsam Lake In the Falkland Islands:* Grand Jason Island, sometimes known as "Grand Island"In the United States:*Grand Island, California, community in Colusa County...
. Grand Island however provides a serious navigation hazard, and as boats navigate in the East Channel, there are several dangerous rock ledges that will sink the unwary captain. This pair of range lights replaced the ineffective Grand Island East Channel Light
Grand Island East Channel Light
The Grand Island East Channel Light is a lighthouse located just north of Munising, Michigan and was intended to lead boats from Lake Superior through the channel east of Grand Island into the Munising Harbor. Constructed of wood, the light first opened for service in 1868...
in 1905. The history of these lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
s is documented by Terry Pepper and is not reproduced here.
The light is located on the hill south of the village of Munising. It is only a 15 feet (4.6 m) steel tower, but located up on the hill, it is 107 feet (32.6 m) above the lake level. It contains an incandescent electric light inside a red shield.