Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - Nature and Science

Towering above Lake Superior are the most prominent of the lakeshore"s geographic and scientific features -- the multicolored sandstone cliffs for which the lakeshore is named. These cliffs reach to a height of 200 feet above the lake and extend over 12 of the 42 miles of shoreline within lakeshore boundaries. Equally important as these cliffs in geographic and scientific significance are the Grand Sable Dunes -- sand dunes perched atop five miles of high sand bluffs at the east end of the lakeshore"s shoreline and covering over five square miles. Miles of unspoiled beaches are a third prominent feature of the lakeshore.

The "scientific features" of the lakeshore reach far beyond the visually spectacular. Because of its location within the transition zone between the boreal and eastern deciduous forest biomes, the lakeshore exhibits elements of both forest types. Hardwood forests are prevalent, but conifers dominate some sites. Soils range from well-drained sandy soils to hydric. Wetlands are common throughout the lakeshore. Many wildlife species live permanently or seasonally within the lakeshore. The cold maritime climate along the shore of Lake Superior greatly influences physical conditions and hence biotic communities.