Cross-country skiers have another way to embrace the season in the far north. Set in the woods along Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, the Ski North Ultra gives participants a chance to enjoy a day in the woods.
New kiosks are appearing in ranger stations, state parks, and local businesses along Minnesota’s North Shore, making it easier for visitors to connect with the region’s cultural, natural, and environmental history.
Researchers have announced that lake trout have fully recovered in most of Lake Superior. The Lake Superior Committee, which manages and protects the lake, credits this recovery to decades of sound research and conservation practices. However, they caution that, given climate predictions, species management must remain proactive and vigilant.
Marathon swimmers set a new distance relay record to highlight the impact of warming waters in Lake Superior. Over 24 hours, the athletes swam 46 miles without wetsuits. The documentary film, A Sea Change for Superior: The Warming of the World’s Largest Lake, captures what the effects of climate change mean for the ecosystems and communities that depend on it.
Since 2021, the USFS Northern Research Station’s Mercury Sulfur Initiative Working Group has been studying mercury and sulfur pollution in the Upper Great Lakes region. They will be hosting a webinar series on reducing these harmful chemicals in water and soil. Innovative research includes using trees, plants and microbes to remediate pollution.
The Minnesota DNR, in collaboration with outside partners, recently acquired 25 acres in Cook County. The Icelandite Coastal Fen SNA safeguards rare species, vital wetlands, uncommon geological formations, and other significant elements of the state’s natural landscapes. The protected area is one of only two known fens along Lake Superior.
PFAS or Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances are raining down on Lake Superior, contaminating its waters. A recent study reveals that rain has played a large role in spreading PFAS into all five Great Lakes. Actions are being taken at the federal and state levels to remove these toxins.