City of automakers
According to Acronymmonster, the city of Detroit is located in the southwest of the American state of Michigan and is known as the Motor City. Detroit is located on the Detroit River, right on the border with the province of Ontario, Canada. The Detroit River connects Lake Erie to the south with smaller Lake St. Clair to the north.
Downtown Detroit skyline along the Detroit River in Michigan
The USA-Canada border runs through both lakes. Around 920,000 people currently live in Detroit, the proverbial center of the US automotive industry. Americans call Detroit, Michigan their Motor City.
Metropolis with French roots
The French once founded a settlement on the site of today’s Detroit, they already recognized the favorable location on the Detroit River. Bloody battles against local Native Americans, the Pontiac Indians, took place in this region of the USA in the 18th century. Ford, Chrysler and General Motors once produced their automobiles in full force in Detroit.
In the 19th century, numerous emigrants from Europe and Asia flocked to what is now the metropolitan area of Detroit and worked in the automobile industry. In today’s time of globalization this has of course changed somewhat.
Sculpture in memory of boxer Joe Louis in Detroit
Detroit Landmarks
- Cadillac Palace
- Detroit Olympics
- Belle Isle
- Joe Louis Fist – Hart Plaza
- Renaissance Center
- Motown Historical Museum
- Comerica Park
- Museum of African American History
- Old St Mary’s Church
- Cobo Center
- Masonic Temple
- Detroit Institute of Arts
Isle Royale National Park in Michigan – USA
In the land of the Great Lakes – Lake Superior
Isle Royale National Park is located very close to the Canadian border on the north side of Lake Superior in Michigan. The national park encompasses an island in Lake Superior – Great Lakes, in the northeastern United States, just off the border with Canada. The nearest town to Isle Royale Island is Thunderbay, located in the Canadian province of Ontario.
Rock Harbor Lighthouse on Isle Royale – Michigan
The total area of Isle Royale National Park is 2,183 km². Isle Royale National Park was established in 1940 and is visited by up to 18,000 tourists annually.
Main Island “Isle Royale”
The main island, Isle Royale, is 13 kilometers wide and 72 kilometers long. The island has a heavily indented coastline. The Isle Royale National Park, which is very small by North American standards, consists of almost 75% water areas. In summer, the island can be accessed by ferries. In winter this is not possible due to the Superior’s harsh climate and pack ice.
Wildlife of the national park
The wild animals probably came to the island over the ice in the winter time. The moose living on the island “Isle Royale” and about 25 wolves can only leave the island when Lake Superior is frozen over in winter. Next gint finds on the island beavers and numerous species of birds to discover. Many species of fish have been counted in the waters of Isle Royale National Park.
Landscape in Isle Royale National Park – Michigan
Isle Royale National Park in Michigan has been designated an “International Biosphere Reserve” by UNESCO. Around the main island there are about 200 very small islets, as well as countless bare rocks that rise out of the lake.
Isle Royale Woods – last resort
Before the arrival of the “whites”, copper was extracted from the island’s rocks by the “Native Americans”. The “whites” came to the island as lumberjacks in the 19th century. A lot of trees were felled. The logging, plus a catastrophic fire in 1936, meant that large parts of the forest were now destroyed. Life on the island was no longer economically worthwhile; eventually Isle Royale was deserted by the people. Four years later, in 1940, the island was finally protected as part of Isle Royale National Park.
Hiking on “Isle Royale”
A longer hiking trail (approx. 60 km) runs through the heights of the Greenstone Ridge, a ridge on the island. There are two small communities on Isle Royale. In winter, the two villages are completely deserted. Most of the island is covered by forest. About 50 lakes and some moorland are present on Isle Royale.
