• Tuesday-What'sUP December 21 - 09:29 am

Next time you visit the Marquette Upper Harbor breakwall you'll find something new installed, shown here in a photo from Shawn Malone, taken last Wednesday. Shawn says the gate is still open right now, but figures it will most likely be closed to keep folks off the breakwall, once the ice buildup begins, which isn't too far away now with the colder temperatures we've been getting UP North.

Shawn's second photo was actually taken the end of November, but I included it here today to give you an idea of what it looks like when a wave is crashing over the breakwall and how this view will be forever changed with the addition of the gates there now. It's too bad things like this have to be erected in order to protect folks from themselves. A number of people have either been injured or lost their lives going out on the breakwall during stormy weather, so with the addition of the gate, it will most likely be closed whenever there is inclement, windy weather. Whether we like it or not, it's there to save lives and avoid the need to rescue someone that goes out and gets in trouble.

love the second picture.

Picture #2, Superior!!

Knowing that area well, it makes me wonder how long those gates will stand when one of the wild Winter storms come off Superior, coating them with ice. The weight of the ice, the pounding waves, and the strong winds seem to be more than a match for the gates. Or perhaps they are stronger than they look......

I echo what Janie said!! That is awesome!! There's nothing like pictures from Lake Superior!

This could also be used for a holding area when the jail fills UP.

A Superior Alcatraz?:)

WIth the gates closed and locked, it might be a good holding place for the holiday drunks!

I can see someone hanging on the sides of the gate and still climbing around them.

Mickill there's always those people who are so smart they're stupid right?

KAY; That sure is true.

Or maybe they can put up some razor wire, just like the big cities. Sweet, huh?

If we want to be really sure that everyone is safe why don't we just build a fence all the way around Lake Superior?

Perhaps the other motivation is keep the city from being sued from those (or their survivors) with little common sense during the storms...

I like the action pic, especially.

Alex & Shirley,
We have an ex-governor who needs a place to stay in March. A Superior Alcatraz sounds just right.

Great photos Shawn and thanks for sharing them.

I agree with my fellow NMU alum, Next best thing to a jail cell, she and I have both seen the worst of storms right there, we could thin out the prisons! Sorry but I believe in it!

Now, THAT is attractive.....

Did anybody see the video of the Fed Ex delivery guy? He was delivering a, nice size, computer screen and he just tossed the box over a gate and went back to his truck. I wonder if he will still have a job....He stood there and with both hands, tossed the box over the gate.

micklll, thank goodness he wasn't the one who delivered my recent pasty order.....I'd have given him 'what for'!:]

Thanks for the share Mary.

Someone brought up a good point on my lakesuperiorphoto FB page, if the city is trying to prevent a lawsuit with this gate, then maybe they should close the gate when the wall is icy or waves are up... it was wide open with ice newly formed on it a couple days ago and I have yet to see it closed. People unfamiliar with the area, and who need a fence such as this to warn them of danger-could misinterpret the open fence to mean it's ok to walk on the wall.

This is why we can't have nice things.

Lake Superior is now a gated community???