Palms Book State Park
Encyclopedia
Palms Book State Park is a state park
in Thompson Township
, Schoolcraft County
, in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan
. Approximately 388 acres (1.6 km²) in size, it is noted for Kitch-iti-kipi
, the "Big Spring" of the Upper Peninsula. The park was founded in 1926.
, the spring, is a pool of clear water 400 feet (120 m) across in its largest dimension, and up to 40 feet (12 m) deep. The spring water can be seen from above as it wells upward through the pond's bottom of bedrock limestone
and sand
, creating a continual pattern of random eddies and cross-currents in the depths of the pond. To the Anishinaabe
people that were the original inhabitants of much of the Upper Peninsula, this site was a place of mystery and wonder. The water is 45°F (7°C) in both winter and summer.
Since the days of the Civilian Conservation Corps
in the 1930s, the state has operated a manually-propelled observation raft on which visitors can ride. The raft, which is fixed by cables, pulls out into the spring pond and allows the depths of the pond to be seen from above. The pond is stocked with trout
.
. Palms Book State Park protects approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) of lake frontage.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
in Thompson Township
Thompson Township, Michigan
Thompson Township is a civil township of Schoolcraft County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township had a total population of 671.- History :...
, Schoolcraft County
Schoolcraft County, Michigan
-National protected areas:* Hiawatha National Forest * Seney National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 8,903 people, 3,606 households, and 2,498 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile . There were 5,700 housing units...
, in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Approximately 388 acres (1.6 km²) in size, it is noted for Kitch-iti-kipi
Kitch-iti-kipi
Kitch-iti-kipi is Michigan's largest natural freshwater spring. The name means big cold water and is sometimes referred to as The Big Spring. Its original name was the "Mirror of Heaven" given to it by the early Indians.Kitch-iti-kipi spring is one of Michigan's Upper Peninsula's major tourist...
, the "Big Spring" of the Upper Peninsula. The park was founded in 1926.
The spring
Kitch-iti-kipiKitch-iti-kipi
Kitch-iti-kipi is Michigan's largest natural freshwater spring. The name means big cold water and is sometimes referred to as The Big Spring. Its original name was the "Mirror of Heaven" given to it by the early Indians.Kitch-iti-kipi spring is one of Michigan's Upper Peninsula's major tourist...
, the spring, is a pool of clear water 400 feet (120 m) across in its largest dimension, and up to 40 feet (12 m) deep. The spring water can be seen from above as it wells upward through the pond's bottom of bedrock limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
and sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
, creating a continual pattern of random eddies and cross-currents in the depths of the pond. To the Anishinaabe
Anishinaabe
Anishinaabe or Anishinabe—or more properly Anishinaabeg or Anishinabek, which is the plural form of the word—is the autonym often used by the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Algonquin peoples. They all speak closely related Anishinaabemowin/Anishinaabe languages, of the Algonquian language family.The meaning...
people that were the original inhabitants of much of the Upper Peninsula, this site was a place of mystery and wonder. The water is 45°F (7°C) in both winter and summer.
Since the days of the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
in the 1930s, the state has operated a manually-propelled observation raft on which visitors can ride. The raft, which is fixed by cables, pulls out into the spring pond and allows the depths of the pond to be seen from above. The pond is stocked with trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
.
Indian Lake
Today, more than 10,000 gallons (40,000 liters) of water per minute gush from the pond into nearby Indian LakeIndian Lake (Michigan)
Indian Lake is a lake in Cass County in southwestern Michigan in the United States. It is approximately west of Dowagiac. It a beautiful spring fed lake....
. Palms Book State Park protects approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) of lake frontage.
External links
- Palms Book State Park Michigan Department of Natural ResourcesMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesThe Michigan Department of Natural Resources is the agency of the state of Michigan charged with maintaining natural resources such as state parks, state forests, and recreation areas. It is governed by a director appointed by the Governor and accepted by the Natural Resources Commission...
- Palms Book State Park Protected Planet (World Database on Protected Areas)
- Kitch-iti-kipi Upper Michigan Waterfalls