Duluth Canal Park

Duluth is at the far western end of Lake Superior, which through the St Lawrence Seaway makes it a saltwater port roughly two thousand kilometres from the ocean - ocean vessels called salties dock here alongside lake freighters carrying iron ore and grain. The Aerial Lift Bridge crosses the ship canal and raises its entire span, about seventy-five metres of it, in under a minute; it sounds a horn signal and ships answer, and the schedule of arrivals is published so you can time a visit. The Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center beside it is free and covers the shipwrecks, including the Edmund Fitzgerald. The lake is cold enough year round to be dangerous and the shore ices dramatically in winter.

What you actually see

• The Aerial Lift Bridge - the whole span rising in under a minute.
• Ocean ships two thousand kilometres inland - via the Seaway.
• A free maritime centre - with the shipwreck history.
• Lake Superior's shore - icing spectacularly in winter.

When to go

May to October for shipping; winter for ice formations. Half a day.

Honest expectations

Ship arrivals are scheduled but change - check the published list. Winter wind off the lake is severe. Summer weekends fill the parking. The lake is too cold to swim in comfortably at any time.

Nearby

The North Shore runs up to Split Rock; Superior, Wisconsin is across the bay.