Some days are simply unsuitable for paddling. When the temperature plummets and the wind picks up (in this case to 8 degrees with winds gusting to 48 knots), the boats stay home. But we cautiously venture out to explore the transformed landscape.
We are especially fond of the fumaroles that form on the ice shelf at the edge of the lake. OK, they aren’t really fumaroles, technically speaking. But they are the closest thing to volcanic vents we see in our area.
These gape-mouthed cones form when on-shore winds push almost-frozen waves and spray through cracks in the ice shelf. Water and brick-size pieces of ice splurt up and freeze where they land, building up the cone.
Our gift to you this sub-freezing morning: Watch a Lake Michigan fumarole gush forth without leaving the comfort of your home. Just don’t tell a volcanologist.
Maybe you should coin a new name for them like ‘hieloroles’. Very cool (more like cold!).
Neat idea, John. We like this unique feature of the Great Lakes.
Wow! I have never seen that before. How very cool, in all senses of the word.
I am eaeting porridge with your delicious dried apples and cranberries…