Exploring our Relationships with Land and Water
Geoheritage emphasizes the importance of the varied values we have for geologic features and explores our relationships with landscape - how do geology and Earth systems processes shape cultures, politics, economies, and identity within our communities?
The Keweenaw Peninsula is renowned for the world’s largest accessible native copper deposit and Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake by surface area on Earth. Geologic processes have fostered relationships with land and water for millennia creating a compelling intersection of deep time, industrial, and cultural heritage. Our work focuses on geoheritage education and outreach opportunities help foster a culture of stewardship, increase Earth science literacy, and provide opportunities to share our varied relationships with land and water. Additional initiatives in our community include the development of geotourism and recreational opportunities (Keweenaw Geotours); we are also dedicated to building strong partnerships with local conservation groups to maintain access to world-class geosites that provide outstanding Earth science learning opportunities.
Geoheritage and Place-Based Education
At its foundation, geoheritage is an effective geoscience communication tool that fosters place-based learning experiences that support Earth science literacy. This learning framework not only nurtures our sense of place and expands our Earth science literacy but also fosters a desire to steward and protect our local environments. Our research initiatives in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula are dedicated to geoheritage education and outreach for both formal and informal learning communities. See below for upcoming learning opportunities!
Keweenaw Geoportfolio: Geospatial Learning Resources to Explore Keweenaw Geoheritage
Our team has created a series of geospatial, digital resources that serve as living databases to support formal and informal learners in understanding the fundamental role geology plays in our varied relationships with land and water. All resources are hosted and shared publicly on the Geospatial Research Facilities’ Enterprise Geospatial Research Portal at Michigan Technological University.
Keweenaw Geoheritage Website
This website is aimed at communicating the strong Geoheritage of the Western Upper
Peninsula of Michigan, including the Keweenaw Peninsula and Isle Royale (housed in
Geological and Mining and Engineering Sciences). There is a wealth of information
for geoenthusiasts and experts alike!
MTU Coverage of Geoheritage
Geoheritage student interns visit the Mohawk #4 tailings pile to learn about the source rock for the stamp sands impacting Buffalo Reed.
Geoheritage student interns learn about conservation efforts in the Keweenaw as our community moves from an extractive past to a quality of life economy.
Geoheritage student interns participate in GLIFWCs Healing Circle Run.
K-12 educators explore Keweenaw poor rock piles as part of a geoheritage summer institute on mining in the Keweenaw.
Geoheritage student interns explore benthic samples of Torch Lake to assess the health of the lake.
K-12 educators gather at McLain State Park as part of a geoheritage summer institute featuring coastal erosion issues in the Keweenaw.