I wanted to visit a kettle lake in the Calumet Region. A kettle lake is formed when large blocks of glacial ice close to the edge of a glacier break away from the main mass. The blocks of ice are then buried by till or outwash (sand and gravel set down by the water from the melting glacier). The block of ice that is buried eventually thaws and the sediment on top breaks down and a large hole will develop. If the block of ice is rather large, than the hole will be larger. The hole is filled with water and is then considered to be a kettle lake. Kettle lakes are deep and are named after the black kettles with the rounded bottoms that the settlers had used. (Schoon, pg. 23)
During my research of kettle lakes in the Calumet Region, I discovered that the Valparaiso Moraine has small kettle lakes upon it. The Lake Michigan ice lobe deposited the Valparaiso moraine in a wide curve across far northwestern IN. Along the moraine, the kettle lakes developed. These water filled kettle shaped depressions are scattered along the moraine. They were created by the melting of partially buried very large blocks of ice. http://faculty.pnc.edu/pwilkin/geology.html
Mink Lake is one of the kettle lakes on the Valparaiso Moraine. It is located north of the Valparaiso city limits and west of Rt. 49. I traveled there and found it located near the intersection of North Calumet Ave. and 632N/638N. The lake is surrounded by a hilly golf course and a campground.
Travelers can enjoy the golf course, fishing at the lake or staying at the campground. There is also a bog (a small marsh) that you can visit called Hotter Lagoon next to Mink Lake. http://www.valpolife.com
It is a pretty area to visit. There are homes across the street from the lake, up on a hill. Since studying about the glacial history in the Calumet Region, it makes me wonder if the neighbors there are aware of the lake's history. It does give you a new found appreciation for our geology in the region. When you think that this all started with the ice age and that it created such a beautiful landscape, it makes you feel very inspired!
References: Kenneth J. Schoon/Calumet Beginnings
Mink Lake which sits on the Valparaiso Moraine is
a kettle lake.
Photograph Taken By: Carol Haynes
Mink Lake is surrounded by a hilly golf course and
a campground.
Photograph Taken By: Carol Haynes
Ducks on the shoreline of Mink Lake.
Photograph Taken By: Carol Haynes
Mink Lake is off the intersection of 632N/638N/N. Calumet Ave.
Valparaiso, IN
Photograph Taken By: Carol Haynes
No comments:
Post a Comment