Icy Passage

by Gales Of November

Title

Icy Passage

Artist

Gales Of November

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Belle Isle lies just north of Detroit where Lake Saint Clair empties into the Detroit River. Frederick Law Olmsted, the man who designed Central Park was hired to plan Belle Isle.

It is home to the Belle Isle Conservatory, the Belle Isle Aquarium, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum which are among many attractions on the island. It is a superb spot to watch the Lake Boats as they pass with many viewing opportunities.

In late November, 2013 the State of Michigan took over management as Belle Isle as the Park had fallen into disrepair and the city of Detroit was unable to maintain the park. It will operate as a State Park for at least 30 years.

The Cuyahoga started life in 1943 under the name Mesabi and was built to carry taconite to the mills on the Great Lakes that were producing steel for the tanks, ships and other supplies needed to fight World War II.

The Great Lakes Steamship Company acquired her and renamed her the J. Burton Ayers. She changed hands, but retained her name until she entered long term layup in 1991.

In 1995 she was purchased by the Lower Lakes Towing Ltd. and renamed the Cuyahoga, which means 'winding river.' In 1999 her steam engine was replaced with a diesel.

As of 1/1/2014, she is the second oldest ship plying the Great Lakes. Her fleet mate, the Mississagi was launched a month previously. Until she went into dry dock for conversion to a tug/barge in late 2013, the Saint Mary's Challenger held the record for being the oldest ship operating on the Lakes having been launched on February 7, 1906.

The Cuyahoga has a length of 620 feet and a beam of 60 feet. This allows her to carry 19,927 tons of cargo when fully loaded.

Here, she is leaving Lake Saint Clair and entering the Detroit River at the north end of Belle Isle. Ice jumbled along the lake shore was piled several feet high.

Uploaded

January 1st, 2014

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