Lakes Pilotage: Superior Local Knowledge

A good landmark at Vermillion on Lake Superior, is _____________.

a. the abandoned Coast Guard Station

A local magnetic disturbance observed in the lake about 10 miles from Duluth has had a difference from normal variation of up to 5° W.

b. False

According to the LCA traffic rules for Lake Superior, Downbound vessels should not pass less than _______ miles off Devil's Island.

c. 12

After reaching a thickness of _____ to _____ inches, the fast ice along the shore of Lake Superior breaks up by:________.

b. 30 - 35 - mid-April

Along the shore in the morning during summer, lake and land breeze result in what type of winds?

a. Off shore

At Duluth/Superior, in a more severe winter, ice up to _____ foot/feet thick can form in December.

a. 1

At the lower end of Lake Superior is a bottle neck area. The shallow bay develops ice and prevailing west winds jam and pack the lake ice.

c. Whitefish Bay

Bete Grise Bay has good holding ground for anchoring with protection from what wind directions?

c. West to Northeast winds

By the LCA recommended routes, a downbound vessel shall not pass less than _______ miles off Whitefish Point.

b. 2.5

Current in the Duluth Ship Canal can at times approach _______.

c. 6 mph

Depths and vertical clearances on Lake Superior are referred to _________.

b. Low Water Datum

During the late fail and early winter on Lake Superior, what are the maximum sea heights that have been encountered

b. 25 to 30 feet

During the summer months most of the fog on Lake Superior is: __________.

a. advection fog

For January, what is the average high temperature for Duluth Minnesota?

c. 17° F

For Lake Superior, what is the importance of Granite Island Light?

c. It acts as a guide to vessels approaching Marquette Harbor from the North and West

Huron Bay light is 6 miles SW of ______?

a. Pt Abbaye

Ice in the Duluth Superior Harbor can reach an average maximum thickness of __________.

b.

27 inches

Ice Windrows forming in Whitefish Bay can reach a maximum thickness of: __________.

c. 8 to 9 feet

In the Duluth Ship Canal vessels drawing more than 20 feet should not approach closer than _____ of the piers because of the stone rip rap protecting the base of the pier.

a.

20 feet

In the summer morning, _____ gives way to west through northwest winds at _____.

d. easterlies - Sault Ste Marie

Lac LaBelle Harbor anchorage has ___________________.

a.

Good Holding with a generally mud bottom

Lake Superior may briefly become covered _____ to _____ percent, but strong winds and the associated waves generally reduce the ice coverage.

d. 80 - 90

Lake Superior's elevation for the chart datum is ______.

b. 601.1 feet

Late ________ is the worst time for gales on Lake Superior, they blow up to _____ percent of the time.

d.

autumn - 6

Local magnetic attraction is greatest at ______ on Lake Superior?

d.

Stony Point

Magnetic disturbances are more prevalent on Lake Superior than on the other Lakes.

a. True

On Isle Royale, what is the name of the island at the north or inner end of the channel leading into Washington Harbor?

b. Beaver Island

On Lake Superior during the autumn months, winds blow more and more out of the: __________.

a. West and North

On Lake Superior there is an area where fog is commonly encountered just East of _________.

a. the Keweenaw Point

On Lake Superior, at the mouth of the Falls River, caution should be used due to _____________.

b. Submerged ruins and a sunken wreck extending 500 feet NW of the river mouth

On Lake Superior, Fisherman's Reef is located: _________.

d. southwest of Rock of Ages Light

On Lake Superior, thunderstorm activity is slightly more frequent at _______ than other locations.

c. Duluth

Over the open waters of Lake Superior thunderstorms are most likely to occur: ________.

a. between midnight and 3 am

Over the open waters of Lake Superior, which of the following is the most fog prone months of the year?

c. April thru August & December

Passage Island Light is?

d. None of the above

Point Abbaye is located near what major landmark?

c. Huron Island Light

Point Iroquois, on the SE side of Whitefish Bay and on the West side of the entrance to the St. Mary's River, is marked by: _______.

d. an abandoned lighthouse

Summer winds On Lake Superior are often out of the _______ and ________.

a.

south - west

Summer winds on the west half of Lake Superior are often from what direction?

a. south thru west

The ______ waters are the least vulnerable, while the _____ and _____ waters are more susceptible to the strong winds with northerly and westerly components.

c. West - central - east

The _______ half of the lake is more vulnerable to thunderstorms than the _______ half.

c. west - east

The deepest spot on Lake Superior is located _________.

b. north of Munising

The down bound course between Eagle Harbor and Copper Harbor will encounter cross traffic bound for______.

d.

Isle Royale

The Duluth "special anchorage area" is located SE of what island?

c.

Hearding Island

The Federal Project depth for Superior Entry is: ___________.

b. 31 to 27 feet

The Federal Project depth for Superior Harbor Basin and anchorage area is: __________.

b.

27 feet

The Federal Project depth of water in the Duluth Ship Canal is _________.

b.

32 to 28 feet

The Keweenaw Peninsula tends to diminish large seas generated by _________.

b. east and west winds

The Keweenaw Waterway has a minimum CONTROLLING depth of ________.

b. 25 feet

The Keweenaw Waterway is used most often during which of the following periods?

d. October & November

The length of the normal navigation season on Lake Superior is generally about: __________.

a. 8 months

The length of the steamer track from the Duluth Ship Canal to Point Iroquois is: ______.

c. 383 miles

The maximum breadth of Lake Superior is on about Longitude 86° 45' is _________.

c. 160 miles

The maximum water depth in Lake Superior is _______.

b. 1333 feet

The most vulnerable waters for fog on Lake Superior lie between ___________.

c. Keweenaw Point & Au Sable Point

The Northshore Mining dock at Silver Bay has at least a depth of ______ alongside.

d. 30 feet

The Southeast coast & peninsula of Grand Island is called _________.

d. The Thumb

The strongest magnetic disturbances are along the ______ shore of Lake Superior.

a. north

There is considerable wave action on Lake Superior due to _________.

c. long fetch

What Aids to Navigation are used to mark Superior Shoal?

d. it is NOT marked by an aid

What are the bottom conditions for the anchorage in West Bay?

a. Good anchorage, 18 to 40 ft with a sand bottom.

What are the prominent features marking Grand Marais Michigan?

d. A red brick school and a chimney in the village

What are the worst months for fog on the open waters of Lake Superior?

b. June - July

What is a Caution when entering Taconite Harbor?

a.

A lost anchor

What is at Manitou Island light?

b. a RACON

What is located on Mt. Bohemia?

b. A fire tower

What is the controlling depth of the entrance channel into Portage Lake?

a. 25 feet

What is the depth of water available at the outer end of Point Abbaye Reef?

b. 6 feet

What is the depth of water covering a boulder 1.7 miles south of Gull Rock?

b. 26 feet

What is the depth of water in the entrance to Agate Harbor?

b. 19 feet

What is the federal project depth of the Portage River section of the Keweenaw Waterway?

c.

25 feet

What is the heading of the ranges marking the entrance to Taconite Harbor?

c. 028 degrees

What is the height of Knife River Light?

d. 31 feet

What is the largest vessel or tug/tow that may meet or overtake another vessel in the Duluth Ship Canal?

b. If each vessel or tug/tow is less than 150 ft in length

What is the length of Portage Lake?

b. 17.5 miles

What is the length of the Keweenaw Waterway?

b. 25 miles long

What is the name of the bay 22 miles W of Pt Abbaye?

d. Keweenaw Bay

What is the name of the island located on the approach to Marquette?

b.

Granite Island is in the approach from the North.

What is the name of the shoal located just south of Caribou Island in Lake Superior?

b. Southwest Bank

What is the name of the western most of the Apostle Islands?

a. Eagle Island

What is the purpose of the red sector in the Marquette Breakwater Outer Light?

c. To warn vessels approaching from the NW of the Presque Isle Point Rocks extending East from Presque Point

What is the speed limit for Duluth-Superior Harbor?

b. 8 mph

What is the speed limit in the Keweenaw Waterway?

8 mph

What is the Structure and Color of Marquette Light?

a. Red Brick Square house with a tower on Light House Point

When a current comming ______ the the Duluth ship canal meets a heavy sea from the _______ it increases the wave heights.

c.

out of - northeast

When entering Grand Marais Minnesota Harbor, caution would be used during ______ Storms, and vessels should keep well over to the East Breakwall to avoid the shoals to the west.

c. Northeasterly

When is Lake Superior's lowest stage of water level?

b. Close of winter.

Where are the anchorages located in Duluth-Superior?

d. All of the above are correct

Which of the following best describes the Au Sable Lighthouse?

b. A white conical tower with a red attached dwelling

Which of the following describes where Tahquamenon Bay located?

d.

On the west side of Whitefish Bay just south of Whitefish Point

Which of the following is a potential hazard for vessels operating in Ashland Harbor?

b. The remains of pilings are often found adrift in the harbor

Which of the following is the largest island in the Apostle Group on Lake Superior?

d. Madeleine Island

Which of the following is the only harbor of refuge between the Keweenaw and Black River?

c. Ontonagon

Which of the following is true about Superior Shoal?

a. It is an Unmarked shoal

Which of the following is true of Hutchinson Shoal on Lake Superior?

c. It is located 5.6 miles SW of Eagle River Michigan

Which of the following is true of the Local Magnetic Disturbances found on Lake Superior?

c. The tendency is for up-bound vessels to be drawn toward the north shore

Which of the following vessels has the right of way in the Duluth Ship Canal?

b. inbound vessels

Which part of Lake Superior is least susceptible to gale force winds and seas, since it is somewhat sheltered?

b. the western part

Which part of Lake Superior is more vulnerable to thunderstorm activity?

c. the west part

Winds on Lake Superior cause fluctuations that seldom exceed 1 foot above or below the normal level, but may cause changes up to 2 feet.

a. True