Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse, Michigan Lower Peninsula
Pointe Aux Barques Light is located on Lake Huron at "the tip of the Thumb" of the mitten shape that is Michigan's Lower Peninsula. This photo was made in June 2003. The lighthouse looks like it's due for some maintenance soon to its weatherbeaten exterior. Pointe Aux Barques means "point of the little boats".
"The Thumb" forms the eastern entrance to the sprawling Saginaw Bay. Known as a "migration trap", the huge bay is a major obstacle for migrating birds. If they choose to follow it's shoreline, their journey is greatly increased in distance. But if they shorten the distance by flying straight across the open water, they take perhaps an even greater risk.
Photo location: Huron County, near Port Austin, Michigan.
