Lava, Ice, and Ancient Seas: How Michigan Got Its Pictured Rocks

Рет қаралды 33,546

Күн бұрын

In Munising, Michigan, more than a dozen miles of rainbow, painted cliffs make up Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Hundreds of thousands of people visit each year, but very few learn the epic, billion-year-long story behind them. It's a story that involves everything from lava, to ancient highlands, to long-forgotten sea creatures, to mile-high glaciers and an ancestral Great Lake.
So, let's take a journey back in time. Here's what the Earth was like hundreds of millions of years ago, back when these famous cliffs were just getting started.
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Find Me Elsewhere:
• On Instagram, I upload a lot of nature photos, plus science and adventure stories: alexis.writes
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• On Etsy, I sell original artwork and stickers: etsy.com/shop/AlexisJDahl
• On Twitter, I occasionally share science news and the occasional thought: alexiswrites
Key Sources:
Some awesome overviews of Pictured Rocks geology:
www.nps.gov/piro/learn/nature...
www.nps.gov/piro/learn/nature...
www.michigan.gov/documents/de...
www.usgs.gov/science-support/...
A long read, but a great book on the geology of the area: books.google.com/books?hl=en&...
#PicturedRocks #UpperPeninsula
Midcontinent Rift/Jacobsville:
eos.org/features/new-insights...
www.nps.gov/articles/parkscie...
www.geo.mtu.edu/KeweenawGeoher...
Miners Castle/Chapel Rock:
naturalhistory.si.edu/educati...
Key Image Sources:
Old Maps: www.earthbyte.org/paleomap-pa...
Paleoart: spinops.blogspot.com/
Chapel Rock Ripples: VOICE, P.J. & HARRISON, W.B., III (2014) Paleozoic Geology of the Central Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Michigan Basin Geological Society and Michigan Geological Survey, 111 p.

Пікірлер: 129

@PendragonDaGreat 2 жыл бұрын

It's just so fascinating to me that *so much* cool geology in that portion of the continent eventually boils down to "The North American Plate tried to rip in half, then kinda just stopped"

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

Right? Every time I start looking into something interesting up here, I inevitably run into the Midcontinent Rift. It's the gift that keeps on giving!

@LAPISTime25 2 жыл бұрын

For the love of everything good in this world, KZfaq, please, PICK THIS PERSON UP! Both fun and informative content; what's there not to love?

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

You're too kind! (This comment also made me laugh a lot. 😂)

@chrislaprise7745 Жыл бұрын

Back in the ‘70’s my brother Tom, his friend Alex and I found the trilobite and brachiopods on the surface in in two locations just a couple miles apart in Westland Michigan. Tom knew the name of them to my surprise. Watching this video reminded me of that childhood memory. Thank you for doing this for me. I shared it to Tom and he will watch it tonight when he gets home from work. He’s exited to see the full story!

@petermoran7582 2 жыл бұрын

The sheer scale of our earths history is astounding and completely mind boggling when you start to go back hundreds of millions of years ...absolutely love your content keep up the amazing work.

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Peter! And I completely agree - those numbers are wild. What really got me was when I tried to make a "10,000 years ago" mark on that timeline graphic... and it was basically on top of the "present day" mark.

@petermoran7582 2 жыл бұрын

@@AlexisDahl yea we are just a blip on that time scale we have so much left to discover.

@mrhonda1 Жыл бұрын

The coolest thing about those people being there when the rock collapsed is that they are now seeing a section of the cliffs that has never been seen before by human eyes.

@The-Digger Жыл бұрын

Every thing about Michigan is amazing

@richanderson5178 2 жыл бұрын

I sandstone around Au Sable Lighthouse forms a shoal ( the depth of water is low and a ship hazard, and is why the lighthouse was built). On the shore, between the Hurricane River and the lighthouse, the sandstone forms shoreline cliffs and a narrow beach. Imbedded in the sandstone are "beach stones" that are exposed as the water slowly erodes away the layers of sandstone. I now know the ocean 500 million years ago formed round beach stones, looking like the same beach stones on Lake Superior, and left them in the sand that formed into the sandstone. Fascinating history.

@bonniearmstrong6564 Жыл бұрын

Interesting!

@Tom-ef1mz 2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely insane! Keep up the great videos!

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

Aw, thank you! I appreciate the encouragement!

@richardmourdock2719 2 ай бұрын

You really do a fantastic job describing the geology of the UP. To be a geologist the first requirement is great imagination. That is not to say the science is not authentic, but to understand the order of things, requires one to imagine the earth hundreds of millions, billions of years ago and most cannot begin to imagine what they have not personally experienced. Glad to buy you a cup of coffee!

@wesh388 Жыл бұрын

You put together a really interesting story, lots of cool info! I imagine a lot of work went into making this video, surprised it doesn't have more views. You definitely deserve it

@MichiganRocks 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the really educational video. I learned stuff!

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

@frenzyXprime 2 жыл бұрын

Munising is my hometown! I’ve spend a lot of time among Pictured Rocks. I wish there was footage of when Miners Castle lost one of its turrets. It made a tsunami effect in the bay.

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

That's awesome! It seems like it would be such a fun place to grow up. And that sounds wild! I knew one of the turrets fell a while back, but I didn't even think about what kind of wave that would've made!

@bonniearmstrong6564 Жыл бұрын

That would be neat to see.

@2011griz Жыл бұрын

Another great video ... thanks so much for doing these. Was camping with my folks and fam way back in the 60's up here and have lived here in da U.P. since 2006 ... but I always learn something new with every vid you do. I'm excited again just as I was as a kid, and enjoying exploring it all again. Thanks.

@AlexisDahl Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! That's such a meaningful comment. I'm glad you've been enjoying learning about the area! It's been a lot of fun for me as well.

@BuckeyeStormsProductions 2 жыл бұрын

Pictures Rocks was so beautiful. We had the chance to visit the UP at the end of July, and did stuff in and around the Marquette area for a couple days, including a boat tour of Pictured Rocks. They explained some of the geology on the tour, but this video explained a lot more, so thank you.

@32cra21 3 ай бұрын

Lots of great stuff here! Also I liked when you split Michigan with lava. 2:00

@Btown2294 Жыл бұрын

I just found your channel, and I love your work! I’m a lifelong Michigan resident and I’ve been going to the Munising and Marquette areas my whole life. I’ve gained so much perspective from your work! Please forgive me if I’ve missed you covering this already, but a fantastic example of a banded iron formation is Jasper Knob in Ishpeming. I don’t know how true it is, but it’s said to be the world’s largest gemstone because it’s made from jasper and hematite. I’ve been to the top of it, and though it can be tricky to find, it’s beautiful.

@gayleblack1919 Жыл бұрын

I lived in Pinckney Mi from 1964 to 1990. All the while digging fossil. I have a great collection of fossil s from plant life to sea life. Also native arrowheads and Speer heads. Now I'm in a small town in Fl where a fossil of a wild cat species that has only been found here. Great fun

@kristypleet4358 Жыл бұрын

I enjoyed your video very much and I love your enthusiasm! Geology fascinates me and makes my heart happy, much like Lake Superior!

@AlexisDahl Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Kristy! I appreciate it!

@joshuadwright9707 Жыл бұрын

My son and I love your work! Great job.

@jimcurtis569 2 жыл бұрын

Awesomeness again. I learned more from your video than a lot of sleep inducing books I've read about Michigan geology. Keep up the good work.

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

Aw, thanks, Jim! That does mean a lot.

@spamllama 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome video again. Thanks for all your hard work, and for sharing your sense of wonder.

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Rae! I really do appreciate it. A lot goes into these videos, so it's super encouraging to seem them received well!

@mikezimmermann2908 Жыл бұрын

Another great video! I've been wanting to see Painted Rocks for a while now, and I think your video is going to be the impetus for a trip up there this summer! Thanks again, Alexis!

@OmanshuThapliyal 2 жыл бұрын

I was there last weekend and was fascinated by the origins. Finally a great explanation for a layperson!

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! I really appreciate that. I hope you had a great time in Munising, too!

@andrewkintzele8848 4 ай бұрын

I went to Pictured Rocks in 2019. Awesome place

@Oddzilla51 2 жыл бұрын

Amazing video. Pictured Rocks and Munising has become one of my families favorites spots in the UP. Amazing part of the country that more people need to know about. Thank you!

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

@thomasjwynn 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome and very informative video! Such awesome colours in those rocks at 12:29. Nature is truly amazing!!

@janellapalm1687 Жыл бұрын

This is the best Michigan geology, perhaps geology in general channel I've ever seen! Keep up the amazing work

@marcsmith2708 Жыл бұрын

I've been to Pictured Rocks countless times, as a kid and adult (taking my kids). I have learned more about Pictured Rocks in this 14 minute video then I ever did in all my trips (and boat rides) there. What a great video! Thank you for putting this together!

@joconnell1994 Жыл бұрын

Your videos are great. I love your enthusiasm!

@ryanthescion 2 жыл бұрын

As always I love that I finally have explanations of things I’ve seen my whole life

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

I keep learning that sometimes, the familiar things have the coolest stories!

@scottbrownell8894 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the information. It’s great to learn more about the awesome places I admire. Keep up the good work! esb.

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

I feel the same way - learning about places I admire is one of my favorite things (and how a lot of these videos end up existing, ha). Thanks for stopping by, as always!

@SuperSalmon01 Жыл бұрын

Great story, great video! Well done😎!

@bigisrick 2 жыл бұрын

Visited PR in summer 2020 did the kayak tour after watching a few videos like this. Was very nervous the whole time but the incredible beauty was well worth the risk. Going back summer 2022 and CANT WAIT

@outdooradventureswithfayde6832 Жыл бұрын

Gosh, I wish I saw this video before I visited a few months ago. Way cool learning more about such an incredibly beautiful and fascinating place. Thank you for the great video 👍

@EnyalienMini 4 ай бұрын

Just found your channel and now I need to visit Northern MI again.

@lalida6432 Жыл бұрын

I took Geology in college. Fell asleep alot. But I’m finding your channel interesting. Thanks!

@AlexisDahl Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! That's a high compliment. 🙂

@scottoxxx1 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the in-depth study of the UP. I grew up in Marquette, now living in Texas and you have renewed my interest in the most unique part of the US, the UP!

@homesteadaquarius Жыл бұрын

Very cool place and history!

@nooneknows6060 2 жыл бұрын

Nicely done!

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! I appreciate it.

@Chalke76 2 жыл бұрын

Great info. Thanks for sharing.

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it!

@kenh9508 Жыл бұрын

Love your videos. I am from the iron range in mn. The United States would not be what it is without the resources of the great lakes. Thank you for the great content.

@Arthurian. Жыл бұрын

That was incredible

@jayh1947 Жыл бұрын

Thank You for this insight. I am very interested in our ancient geology...............Jay

@Obie327 2 жыл бұрын

Amazing! Thank you Guys for taking on this evolutionary time in our Earth's history! So beautiful and I want to see this place in person. Thanks again and love your channel!

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! I appreciate it. And I'd definitely recommend a trip to Pictured Rocks! It's a joy.

@bonniearmstrong6564 Жыл бұрын

Do take the time to visit this area! The year we were up there we were not able to walk out to castle rock because it was unsafe at that time. It was before it became a National Park.

@michygeorg Жыл бұрын

I've been by those cliffs a few times but never seen any rock falling. I can't imagine being there to see that. I got chills just watching the video. I'll have to remember that next time we get out of the boat and near the cliffs 😄

@scottyo911 Жыл бұрын

Your channel is awesome. This from a guy who has lived here for half a century including in the Yoop

@dmitritelvanni4068 Жыл бұрын

Man she loves michigan so much she gets excited about the rocks it's build on. If you ever run for governor I got your back lol

@herbertkeithmiller Жыл бұрын

Just to the south in Wisconsin is Devil's Lake a quartzite formation that is also still rebounding from the last glacier. An unusual and beautiful formation if you ever get a chance to see it.

@adamseroka5609 2 жыл бұрын

Ive always been off on the trails that I never really had the time to learn the geology of PR! Since you'll be up in the UP for the winter, try PR on a snowshoe hike! Ive gone from Munising Falls/Sand Point to Miner's castle and figured it hits both awesome spots in one go! Keep up the awesome content.

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

It's such an easy place to get caught up in! Ooh, thanks for the winter recommendation as well! I'm hoping to expand my snowshoeing this winter, so I'll add that to my list!

@Davey101_ 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks that was really interesting. Definitely somewhere I would visit if it weren't so far!

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Dave! I sometimes wonder how interesting stories like this are to people who aren't familiar with the area, so this is really encouraging.

@Davey101_ 2 жыл бұрын

@@AlexisDahl Your enthusiasm is what makes it!

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

@@Davey101_ Aw, well, thanks! I'm glad it can draw people in!

@stevenleach9522 2 жыл бұрын

WOW! Imagine how many people have stood where that cliff face had broke off. Whew, it would've been some serious bad news - had someone been standing at the cliff's edge. I wouldn't try it without being securely tied to a "Very Taut" bungee cord anchored 75 feet from the cliff face. I surely would not be in or on the water anywhere around the cliff's base.

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

Agreed! I'm not sure how well-trafficked that area of the cliffs was, but I'm definitely glad no one was hurt in all of this.

@unsaltedsea Жыл бұрын

906th upvote 👍👍loving your videos

@robertcarey6388 Жыл бұрын

I love your videos

@waynegodfrey6119 Жыл бұрын

I will live there one day ,I have got to get there .I am kinda obsessed with the up of Michigan.

@czenkusm Жыл бұрын

I love living up here.

@lawneymalbrough4309 Жыл бұрын

Yes. It's still changing and at the speed it's changing there is too much time in your time line to account for what still remains.

@curtisblake261 Жыл бұрын

At some point it's not really about Michigan, but I'm in it to see where it goes.

@tallowisp8868 2 жыл бұрын

This area looks amazing. I'll make sure to take a trip to northern Michigan should I ever visit the US. I am glad I found your channel thanks to Tom Scott's newsletter. :)

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

Aw, thank you! I appreciate that! And Pictured Rocks is absolutely a gem - it's very high on my Michigan recommendations list!

@tallowisp8868 2 жыл бұрын

@@AlexisDahl Your are very welcome. You deserve many more Subs imo so if I get the chance I will spread the word. On a side note I finally remembered where I heard the term Trilobites before: PBS Eons. A pretty cool channel about all things evolution, not so much about rocks though but maybe you want to have a look anyway. :)

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

@@tallowisp8868 Oh, shucks, thanks! I appreciate that. ☺️ Aw, I love Eons! I actually used to be coworkers with the folks who made the show. It's a great crew, and they made some of my favorite stuff on KZfaq. 🙂 I'm glad you've been enjoying it!

@tallowisp8868 2 жыл бұрын

@@AlexisDahl Oh that is really cool. Now I am even more jealous than I was already. Guess the only way to catch up now is to go to Michigan asap and co-work with the Numberphie and/or Computerphile folks. ;)

@Thedandersonfanderton Ай бұрын

This would b an awesome video Face in the Rock Scenic Site on Lake Superior by the Roadside Park AuTrain, MI The face was carved in 1820 !!

@mikeashely8198 Жыл бұрын

The glacier you're talking about is not the only glacier used to roam around in California in the Sierras in the valleys you can see remnants of the glaciers. All depends on the size of a glacier there's at least three or four glaciers that came through they have the wall of Rock like a bathtub ring you can find it in lower Michigan. Larger Glacier races the smaller glaciers so you don't know if there were glaciers prior to the large one you got to look hard

@danbough6892 2 жыл бұрын

Bacon rock YUM!! Love your videos!!

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Dan! I appreciate it!

@jvin248 Жыл бұрын

Besides the slow Continental Drift theory there is the much more catastrophic Sun Nova/Magnetic Pole Shift cycle theory. This puts Antarctica and Greenland on an alternate equator such that Northern Michigan is in a tropical zone matching the fossil record. Look into the channels Diehold Foundation, SuspiciousObservers, and that Netflix series Ancient Apocalypse. The cycle observed is 12,038 years and we'll get confirmation either way in the next two decades.

@mikeskidmore6754 6 ай бұрын

Remember when the C02 Levels were about three times higher on Earth and it had very lush plant growth and Dinasaur's.

@rjsmith6698 Жыл бұрын

Michigan must be chock full of great scenery. Never realized until today that it borders 4 of the 5 Great Lakes, plus Lake St Clair. I’ve only driven through it once, on my way from Toronto to Chicago. Well, twice if you count the trip home.😊 Check that....I lied...just remembered, I went to the Birch Run Outlet mall once and visited Frankenmuth, and also went to a casino in that area as well. Missed all the best scenery around the shore lines though.

@hokyry111 2 жыл бұрын

Those cuts to HD settings 😍

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

I became very good friends with a stock photo website this month! I considered animating everything, but really, nothing says "Here's what the Earth used to be like" quite like HD video.

@robertfallows1054 Жыл бұрын

Was there last summer. One thing that confused me. You described the mid continent rift and then the fact that Michigan area was near the equator. Have I got the time periods mixed up or was the mid continent rift occurring while the area was near the equator??

@mikeashely8198 Жыл бұрын

Back in the '60s and early seventies used to climb all over miners Castle to the edge now it's falling into the lake you can't even get out to near it

@alanjohnson2613 Жыл бұрын

Tried to view the quarry in jacobsville but it is on private land

@bold810 Жыл бұрын

Alexis, off-topic I guess, but I would like to know how and why the Upper Peninsula. It's... Boggling? I mean..???

@benvars5889 2 жыл бұрын

This video rocks *puts on sunglasses*

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

Ha ha, yess! This is one of the best compliments to get on a geology video.

@jenemcik Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this! I've always been interested in the formation of michigan

@miniflea0469 2 жыл бұрын

AYO I WAS JUST THERE

@miniflea0469 2 жыл бұрын

I know the brad in the video!!

@AlexisDahl 2 жыл бұрын

Ah, that's so fun! Shoutout to Brad!

@johncordes7885 7 ай бұрын

Mmmmmmm!!! Bacon rock!!!!

@noworriesmate5903 Жыл бұрын

Climate is warmer than it is today. Hmm

@GreenMntMoto Жыл бұрын

so happy to have found your channel - been wanting to visit for 2 years now after seeing “waterwalker”

@The-Digger Жыл бұрын

U have a beautiful smile to by the way

@2fathomsdeeper 2 жыл бұрын

Get yourself a pan and go to the beach and look for some black sand by Grand Maris.

@lyleschull6516 Жыл бұрын

How did superior gets its name

@wolver73 9 ай бұрын

By elevation. Same as why Canada by the lake was once known as Upper Canada as opposed to Lower Canada.

@mikeashely8198 Жыл бұрын

Some of those pictures are Death Valley been there done that in and out up and over. The same with the Picture Rocks

@canonwright8397 Жыл бұрын

Earth... the ultimate anti-conservationist. This is why I'm for global warming; we need to protect our global history before the earth erodes it all away! (And I really want that star gazer farm in Antarctica). That's it. Thanks for listening.