Lake Michigan Ice Cover
May 15, 2015
Photographer: Randy Schaetzl
Summary Author: Randy Schaetzl
Ice cover on the Great Lakes was exceptionally extensive during the winter of 2014-2015, approaching record levels -- for the second straight year. This photo shows the ice cover near the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, close to Holland, Michigan, in late winter, 2015. Westerly winds over the lake push the ice shoreward, ramping it over existing ice and creating spectacular morasses of ice sculptures and mazes. The shoreline, with its large sand dunes, is visible in the background. This dune field is the largest of its kind associated with a freshwater lake. Like most major ports on the Great Lakes, the river that enters the lake at Holland, the Macatawa River, is guarded by concrete jetties to facilitate shipping. The towers mark the end of the jetties, and for boaters it marks the beginning of open water. Photo taken on March 23, 2015.
Photo details: Camera Model: NIKON D90; Lens: 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-6.3; Focal Length: 35mm (35mm equivalent: 52mm); Focus Distance: 158m; Aperture: ƒ/20.0; Exposure Time: 0.0006 s (1/1600); ISO equiv: 1250; Software: Adobe Photoshop CS5.1 Windows.