Palisade Head facts for kids
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Palisade Head is a huge rock formation on the North Shore of Lake Superior. It is located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. This amazing spot is part of Tettegouche State Park. However, it is not directly connected to the main part of the park. You can find Palisade Head about 54 miles (86 km) northeast of Duluth. It is also about 3 miles (5 km) northeast of Silver Bay. It sits right by Minnesota State Highway 61.
How Palisade Head Formed
Palisade Head was made from a type of lava called rhyolitic lava. This lava flowed out about 1.1 billion years ago. Imagine a time when the Earth's land was pulling apart! This happened during the Mesoproterozoic era.
The continent started to split open. This created a huge crack called the Midcontinent Rift System. It stretched from Lake Superior all the way to Kansas. This splitting stopped before a new ocean could form.
A very thick lava flow, about 200 feet (60 meters) deep, cooled down. It turned into extremely hard volcanic rock. This strong rock resisted erosion for a billion years. The softer rocks around it wore away. This is how Palisade Head and Shovel Point were created. Shovel Point is about two miles (three kilometers) east.
Palisade Head is a shallow piece of land sticking into Lake Superior. The lake surrounds it on three sides. Its highest point is over 300 feet (90 meters) above the lake. The cliffs facing the lake are hundreds of feet tall.
Plants and Animals at Palisade Head
The top of Palisade Head is covered by a mixed forest. You can find white spruce trees there. There are also mountain ash, aspen, and paper birch trees. You might even spot some oak trees.
Many amazing birds fly around the cliffs. These birds are called raptors. You can often see them soaring high above. Peregrine falcons build their nests on Palisade Head. Bald eagles also nest in the area.
In the fall, thousands of hawks migrate along the shoreline. You can see many different kinds of hawks. The area also has lots of wild blueberries. Sometimes, you can find gooseberries too.
What People Do at Palisade Head
Palisade Head is mostly natural. There are not many buildings or structures. You will find an access road and a place to park. There is also an antenna tower. A few low rock walls are near the cliff edges for safety.
On clear days, the views are incredible! You can see the Sawtooth Mountains to the northeast. Split Rock Lighthouse is visible to the southwest. Across the lake, you might spot the Bayfield Peninsula and Apostle Islands in Wisconsin. You can also watch ships moving on Lake Superior.
Palisade Head is a popular spot for rock climbing. Many climbing routes go up the lakeshore cliffs. These cliffs were also used as a filming location for the movie The Good Son.
