Snowdrift on Keweenaw, Michigan

Photographer: Sharon I, Smith; Sharon’s Web Page
Summary Author: Sharon I, Smith

Copper Harbor, Michigan is at the north end of the Keweenaw Peninsula, which sticks out 50 miles (80 km) into Lake Superior from Michigan's Upper Peninsula (UP). Because of our northerly location, the water that surrounds us and proximity to cold season storm tracks, we average 243 in. (617 cm) of snow a year. This picture shows a drift that formed at the east end of Copper Harbor after a two-day blizzard -- February 9-11, 2008. Since the Harbor was frozen, the wind swept the snow across its entire length, dumping it in this low relatively open area. The notable drift was about 10 ft (3 m) high and 50 ft (15 m) long. It took four men, two tractors with snow-blowers, and a large front end loader the better part of a day to clear a path barely one car wide. Photo taken on February 12, 2008.

Copper Harbor coordinates: N47.468889, W87.888333