Isle Royale is defined by Lake Superior. Its isolation, its weather, its mystique all derrive from that enormous body of fresh water. If it were on the mainland, it might be just another national park, but there, out in the lake, it’s something different, something special.

The ferry trip to Isle Royale takes hours, during which the island grows from a sliver on the horizon into a rich, green, pristine haven of trees and wildlife. It is a transition from the modern world to the wilderness, from cars and cell phones to boots and bird calls.

(This post is part of the 100/100/100 challenge)