Isle Royale National Park in the state of Michigan in the USA receives over 17,000 visitors annually. The park, which was founded on April 3, 1940, shows some exciting natural beauties on an area of 2,182 square kilometers. See directoryaah for museums in Michigan.
Isle Royale National Park is an island wilderness. At least that’s how you could describe him at first glance. It is located on Lake Superior and is abundantly covered with forest. There is a large main island and around 200 smaller secondary islands. Around the outside, many jagged rocks covered with lichen protrude from the sea. The rock is mostly basalt. Important for visitors: The entire area of the Isle Royale National Park is a road and car-free zone! Driving on it would also hardly be possible, because there are over 50 lakes and lots of swamp areas. The islands can be reached by ship or plane.
History of Isle Royale National Park
The first people came to what is now the Isle Royale National Park to extract pure copper from the stones. In the past, copper was mainly used for one’s own purposes, but jewelry was also made from it, which was then exchanged or sold. The copper obtained here was often processed further into everyday objects.
As finally in the 19th century the Europeans came, the indigenous islanders disappeared forever. The immigrants worked as lumberjacks, fishermen, trappers and also copper seekers. They weren’t permanent residents, however, as they only came here during the summer. Nevertheless, the island forest has been severely cleared. In 1936, a huge fire put the rest of the heavily battered forest. But the fire also had its uses. The loggers and fishermen had no more work, ended their stay and the damage to the island. However, you can still visit the fishermen’s huts and sawmills today.
Flora and fauna of the Isle Royale National Park
Due to various influences of nature and humans, the flora and fauna in the area of the Isle Royale National Park has changed significantly over time.
At the beginning of our century, instead of wolves and moose, caribou, lynx, deer and coyotes were more at home. More yew trees were found here than other types of wood.
In 1912, the first moose were transported to the island via ice or by swimming. Since no moose lived here before, there were no natural enemies of the animals. They were able to reproduce extremely quickly, which reduced the habitat of the other animals on the island.
Already in 1930 the moose had eaten almost all the yew trees and so the animals began to starve. The deer, coyotes and caribou that had previously lived here disappeared from the island.
But in the winter of 1948/49 a wolf pack set out on a journey across the ice and arrived from Canada on the island. They found plenty of food and thus provided a so-called ecological balance.
Forest is predominantly found on the island.
