Lake Superior is said to be the largest freshwater lake, by surface area, in the world. Anyone who's spent a bit of time on her, knows just how big she really is. I know the first time I traveled to the east coast and saw the Atlantic Ocean, it didn't make as big an impression on me as I thought it would. I'm sure it was due to growing up near Lake Superior, looking out at the vastness of this beautiful body of water and not seeing any land in sight.

The Pasty Guest Gallery is a treasurechest of beautiful pictures of Lac Supérieur. Thanks goes to Robert Wetton for showing us her peaceful side.

This is a gorgeous picture. What a great way to start my morning. Thanks!

OK, what does Heikinpaiva mean, as on the t-shirt on the contest page? Beautiful, serene picture today! Sixteen degrees this morning in the Flint area. Have a good day!

Marsha, check out this website:
http://pasty.com/winter2004/
Give you the background.

WOW! What a beautiful view! I wish I could have that photo enlarged enough to put it on a wall in my house!

What a lovely, serene photo... thank you Robert!

You can just SMELL that clean, clear, cold water. What a glorious picture.

(And YES...you CAN smell Superior!)

This shot was an instant new wallpaper. So Serene she looks, but watch out!

What a beautiful photo. Sure do miss the Great Lakes.

Is this picture from the 5 mile point road in Keweenaw County next to the park? It sure looks like it. A favorite local swimming spot.

Gal in Kalamazoo: We will have to take a ride to this spot some time.

I have to laugh over my first experience in seeing the Atlantic Ocean too ! My hosts were so excited to be showing this UP gal what the ocean looked like for the first time and were greatly disappointed when I was not amazed at it's size ! And I am afraid I made a remark that Lake Superior smelled much better. No matter where I travel...there is no body of water more beautiful than "The Sea Superior "
But then I am not telling the fans of this forum anything they do not already know.

hello,brend k, it was good talking to you and i took alook at your site in mexico,it sure looks nice and warm,will write one of these days,take care,bob-b

My first sight of the ocean was the Gulf of Mexico. It stinks from oil spills and there were jelly fish dying all over the shore. We stunk after we got in it, too. No where near as awesome as the GREAT ONE. Lake Superior has a nice fresh driftwood smell to it!

Gorgeous Photo. Our Lake Erie down here is not as pristine as Superior, but it's cleaner than when I was a kid. On a good day in the spring, you CAN smell the lake, and its a natural, living, not altogehter unpleasant aroma.

ljh Yes it was taken about half way to Eagle River on the 5 Mile Point road. Thanks for the compliments.

When my mom moved from Houghton to live with me after my dad died, we used to go to a park and eat lunch watching the Pacific Ocean. My mom always called it the "lake." In Ventura or Santa Barbara where I lived then, you can see the Channel Islands a few miles out so the ocean actually "looks" smaller than Lake Superior! And the smell isn't anywhere near as nice.

The last time I drove up to the UP, we went through Duluth. This was in May 2003. I could actually smell the distinct and sweet aroma from Hinckley, Minnesota. For the next sixty miles, I had my head out the window taking it all in, just like a dog! Deep, Deep breaths of it!! Awe for the smell of the GREAT ONE!

"Here are your waters and your watering place. Drink and be whole again beyond confusion".
Robert Frost

I agree with you Connie about the wonderful fresh smell from Hinckley and North, it is great.
Hi Trish in WA

Mary,UP gal and the rest of you are right! Superior IS superior! and the oceans have all that nasty salt in them... they make your skin feel so crusty after you swim!

Grew up in Detroit and vacationed every summer in my grandparent's cottage at Paradise. Learned to swim in the big, cold lake. Like Mary Drew, I was underwhelmed by my first glance of the ocean. Superior is as magnificent and the water is fresh! Thanks to Robert Wetton for a great picture of the great lake. Thanks to Pasty cam for daily doses of the UP.

Swimming in the Ocean........ick.

Give me Lake Superior any day. I don't smell when I get out, and my hair isn't sticky. Since I've lived in the city for a few years, the thing I miss most about the UP is being able to go jump in any ol lake anytime I want.

Is the canal frozen over today?

I, too was underwhelmed by the Atlantic the first time I saw it. Here, the Jersey Shore is like Lourdes to most native NJer's. And when I was told we were going to rent a locker and needed to SHOWER after going in the ocean, WELL! my question was why go swimming if your skin isn't going to be sweet and clean afterward!?? (OH and salt water makes the sand stick to your skin like Elmer's Glue!) 33 years later, I still have not ever gone back into the ocean. But I raised 3 kids here and they all enjoy the ocean and swimming in it. I do admit to really love being BY the ocean, but I just don't go in it!!

Bill - stuck in Illinois..............I believe the canal picture is from last winter. Note the lastest Bridge Cam as there still is open water.

What a beautiful photo. I agree with everyone else, I was not impressed with the ocean after having grown up on Lake Superior. As quiet and serene as it looks, it can change in a second and be an absolute monster! Therefore, everyone knows, one must have a good, healthy respect for her, SHE IS THE BOSS! Gotta love her!

Bill
I was thinking the same thing. It sure looks frozen to me. I wonder
how many hours will pass before a snowmobiler tests it?

Hi Kathie in SD,
How is the family? Greet everyone for us. I talked to
Mike the other night and he says he brought a 'few'
pasties for Mom and Dad's freezer That oughta keep
them happy all winter.
I can see you're still a yooper girl at heart. I hope you
get up to your place again soon.
Trish

I read your comments as many days as I can and just love them.
Denny

Got the callender today and its beautiful. Todays
shot might be in next years.Fresh water vs salt
water?. No contest.

There is one drawback to being from the UP. Drinking water from the tap anywhere else just doesn't hack it!

Used to drink water from Superior that we got from a bucket about 1 mile north of Isle Royale. Best water I have ever tasted. This was 45 years ago though. I do know that lake can turn to 40 foot waves in no time, though. I have a 24 ft cruser in colc, now and trust it to anything these waters will give, but would not attempt superior on a little bit of a bad day!

Beautimous pic, RCW. Way back when, a friend and I walked from 5 Mile Pt. to Jacob's Creek. Took us from noon to after dark. Was pitch dark when we came past the Gitchee Gumee BC into Eagle River and his grandpa's cottage. What a day that was! Ever been swimming in Lake Superior at 3 am? It had been a nice warm day.

WOW!! My favorite lakeshore scene. thanks for all the photos too.

Boy, oh boy! we Lake Superians are quite a bunch, aren't we. I do miss the Lake--we have very, very little here in West TX. Our family "did the Great Lakes" one year for vacation and we remember taking a brief dip in Superior. Our oldest dog loved every minute. I learned to swim in Chequamegon Bay: Brrrrr!

BEAUTIFUL LAKE SUPERIOR ! MY FAVORITE PLACE ! CANT WAIT TO COME BACK UP CAMPING (COPPER HARBOR, MUNISING) IN THE SUMMERTIME. I LIVE DOWNSTATE NEAR PONTIAC / DETROIT.
UNFORTUNATELY WE DONT HAVE THAT KIND OF NATURAL BEAUTY DOWN HERE.

I love the refreshing nature of Superior too, but the
ocean has coral reefs. One can snorkel over the
beautiful underwater world and be mesmerized by the
fish, corals, and sea turtles that swim to within a foot of
your face! I'll shower after an hour snorkeling in a fish
bowl given the chance!

I have been to the deep Caribbean several several times and will take the beauty of Superior any day over the sea !

nothing can even come close to the wild natural beauty of lake superior or any of our GREAT LAKES.

Right On Patrick !! Right On !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Was just wondering where exactely this was taken. I was wondering if it was taken just off the road in front of a red cabin, one of the few remaining old timer cabins. It just looks like a place I use to get down to the water from. I miss the water so much. Yeah, I have been swiming in it at 2 am. Learned how to handle the cold water my kids think I am nuts because I jump right into lakes and pools and it don't bother me. They just don't get it. Best nature has to offer... thanks for the pic.