Change. Sometimes it's just easier to notice it from overhead. That was the point of this week's Mystery Photo, which surfaced from Voyageurs National Park.
There isn't anything much finer than a paddling trip in the middle of summer, and Voyageurs National Park offers more than a few opportunities for launching a canoe or kayak. This shot of the Narrows was taken in 2006 by Carl Breske. It was taken in October, too, which gives you an idea of how long the paddling season extends in the park.
While every day of the year offers opportunities to explore the National Park System and learn something about this unique collection of properties, once a year the president proclaims "National Park Week" with hopes folks will get out and enjoy the parks. This year that week starts Saturday, April 18, and runs through next Saturday, April 26.
While Voyageurs National Park received permission and the funding to purchase a new tour boat, it's going to take just a little while for that cruiser to show up in Rainy Lake.
How many moose reside in Voyageurs National Park? Well, the 2009 winter survey spotted 45 Alces alces, but biologists believe that translates to a park-wide population of at least 80.
What do you do to pass winter in Minnesota's north country? Why, read books, of course. And if you live close to Voyageurs National Park, you become involved in the park's book club.
This week’s quiz will find out if you are a winterwise park visitor. Answers are at the end. If we catch you peeking, we’ll make you explain why the Bergeron-Findeisen process grows snowflakes only because the equilibrium vapor pressure of water vapor with respect to ice is less than that with respect to liquid water at the same subfreezing temperature.
Winter, it seems, is everywhere these days. Even poor Las Vegas has been hammered (relatively speaking, of course) by a snowstorm. And Death Valley National Park has seen snowflakes this winter. So shouldn't you be planning a national park ski trip?
The impending change of rules that would allow national park visitors to arm themselves stands a good chance of being placed in limbo, if not overturned, by legal challenges in the coming weeks and months. But if that doesn't happen, it'll be interesting to see how many gun owners actually follow the rules.
Looking for a way to mark Halloween in the National Park System? Consider a visit to Voyageurs National Park this Friday for a holiday-theme naturalist hike.