Two Hearted River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Two Hearted River |
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River mouth at Lake Superior
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 Location within the state of Michigan
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Luce County, Michigan 46°35′29″N 85°37′47″W / 46.59138°N 85.62986°W |
| River mouth | Lake Superior, Michigan 46°42′06″N 85°24′52″W / 46.70167°N 85.41457°W |
| Length | 23.6 mi (38.0 km) |
The Two Hearted River is a beautiful river located in the eastern Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It's famous for its wild, forested areas and clear waters.
This river flows for about 23.6 miles (38 km) through a natural wilderness. It eventually empties into the very large Lake Superior. The river starts from several small streams in northeastern Luce County. This area is about 15 miles (24 km) southeast of Grand Marais. The North and West branches of the river join together about 8 miles (13 km) south-southeast of Muskallonge Lake State Park. From there, the main river flows mostly northeast. It meets Lake Superior about 10 miles (16 km) east of Deer Park.
A Historic Life-Saving Station
A special Michigan Historic Marker tells the story of the Two-Hearted Life-Saving Station. This station was built in 1876 right at the river's mouth. It was a simple two-story building with a small lookout tower. Six to eight volunteer surfmen worked there. Their job was to rescue people from ships in trouble on Lake Superior. They helped save people from ships like the Satellite in 1879 and the Phineas S. Marsh in 1896.
The station was part of the United States Life-Saving Service. In 1915, this service became part of the U.S. Coast Guard. The Two-Hearted station stopped operating in the 1930s. Its buildings were taken down in 1944.
Fishing and Famous Stories
The Two Hearted River is a very popular place for people who love to fish. Because of its fame, it became the title of a well-known short story. This story, called "Big Two-Hearted River", was written by the American author Ernest Hemingway.
Hemingway chose the name "Two Hearted River" because it sounded interesting. However, the places described in his story actually point to a different trout stream. That stream is the Fox River, which is near Seney. Hemingway's story takes place after World War I. It was first published in 1925 in a collection called In Our Time. It was later republished in 1972 as part of The Nick Adams Stories.
In Popular Culture
Bell's Brewery, a company that makes special beers in Kalamazoo, Michigan, has a popular beer named Two Hearted Ale. The label on this beer even shows a picture of the river. This beer has been called one of the best in the United States by Zymurgy Magazine. This magazine is published by the American Homebrewers Association.
