Heart of the Continent

Heart of the Continent NE Minnesota and NW Ontario offer epic outdoor adventures and authentic cultural experiences

The name Heart of the Continent points to the geographical and geological significance of this unique region. The core of this natural area, on the Ontario/Minnesota border, includes Quetico, Sleeping Giant, Kakabeka Falls Provincial Parks, Superior National Forest, Voyageurs National Park, and NE Minnesota State Parks. These places are:

• geographically located near the center of the North Ameri

can continent.
• geologically a part of the Canadian Shield, a stable core of North America around which the rest of the continent has grown through geological processes.

Mornin’
01/14/2025


Mornin’

"In winter, the stars seem to have rekindled their fires, the moon achieves a fuller triumph, and the heavens wear a l...
01/13/2025


"In winter, the stars seem to have rekindled their fires, the moon achieves a fuller triumph, and the heavens wear a look of a more exalted simplicity." —John Burroughs

The first full moon of the year is here 🌕🐺 Also known as the Wolf Moon, January's full moon will peak tonight at 4:27 pm. We wish you clear skies tonight to admire its beauty ✨🌟

📷 Alyssa Pohl, Banning State Park

The Big ChillQuality unique products can be found right here in the HeartoftheContinent Region ‘The Big Chill’A piece ...
01/13/2025

The Big Chill

Quality unique products can be found right here in the HeartoftheContinent Region


‘The Big Chill’

A piece inspired by Sun Halos and forty below temperatures. Temps like this are pretty tricky for fingers and toes.
🥶

Robbie

Quality products and services are available right here in the HeartoftheContinent Region Baking for all occasions Valen...
01/13/2025

Quality products and services are available right here in the HeartoftheContinent Region

Baking for all occasions
Valentines 💝 Day is coming
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01/12/2025

Several of you guessed correctly, Staci Drouillard's new picture book A FAMILY TREE was a top seller for us this year! This children's book is beautifully illustrated by Kate Gardiner and is set in Grand Portage.

It is a layered and beautiful story of a child and his spruce tree as they grow up and take care of each other. Based on a true story!

Speaking of true stories, Staci's first book WALKING THE OLD ROAD is on our top sellers list every year, and we're so glad it keeps finding new readers. It is a people's history of Chippewa City and the Grand Marais Anishinaabe, with historical interviews and research about our area.

Miigwech for these stories,

Conditions are currently PERFECT for outdoor skating on a local rink or frozen lake! If you’re looking for things to d...
01/10/2025


Conditions are currently PERFECT for outdoor skating on a local rink or frozen lake!

If you’re looking for things to do on the North Shore in Lake County, MN, your options are endless. This is truly Minnesota’s playground!

lovinlakecounty.com/explore-lake-county/things-to-do-mn-north-shore/

Lunch break waterfall/foam-ice tower update. It’s a tricky scramble to reach this spot, and even harder to get out (ap...
01/09/2025


Lunch break waterfall/foam-ice tower update. It’s a tricky scramble to reach this spot, and even harder to get out (approximately a 50-60 degree grade to climb through alder brush), but at least the dense and crusty snow makes it possible with cleats, poles, and care.

Unfortunately, my Fuji glitched when I was just getting in the zone with the long lens to capture that lacy texture. Hopefully it’s just a one-off, as swapping a few lenses back and forth once indoors revived it.

If Friday is cloudy I’ll go back and try again without those pesky sunbeams messing up the contrast!

01/05/2025

Quadrantid meteor shower kicks off the new year

You may have never heard of the "Quads," but they're an annual meteor shower with a very brief but intense peak lasting a handful of hours. This year, the narrow peak occurs on Friday morning, January 3rd around 9 a.m. CST — not exactly ideal for meteor-watching! But if you live farther west, say Alaska, where it's still dark at that time, you stand to see as many as 100-plus meteors per hour.

Those of us not so ideally situated will spy closer to 25 per hour Friday morning between 2 a.m. local time and dawn. Especially bright meteors called fireballs are common among the Quadrantids, so expect some occasional fireworks.

The shower gets its name from an obsolete constellation named Quadrans Muralis the mural quadrant, a pattern of faint stars about 15 degrees below the handle of the Big Dipper. Astronomers once used mural quadrants to measure the altitude of stars. Although the constellation fell into disuse, the name is preserved in the meteor shower.

The streaming location stands highest in the sky in the early morning hours. Few people observe the Quadrantids because it occurs at the coldest time of year during the coldest time of night. Still, if you're able, I'd encourage you to go out and watch this "secret" show.

Each bright meteor you see is a fragment of 2003 EH1, a dormant comet, zipping through the upper atmosphere at around 92,000 miles per hour. Every January, Earth cuts across the trail of particles scattered along 2003 EH1's orbit, and one meteor after another
streams from the same spot in the sky.

Quadrantids will fly out of the northeastern, but you can face any direction to watch the shower. I suggest the one where there's the least amount of light pollution. Dress warmly, relax in a lounge chair under a blanket and be in the moment.

The Frigid Cold Duluth Arrival of the American Century! Arriving Jan 04 to load Iron Ore at CN.About this Visit:The Am...
01/05/2025


The Frigid Cold Duluth Arrival of the American Century! Arriving Jan 04 to load Iron Ore at CN.
About this Visit:
The American Century arrived Duluth MN January 04, 202524 at 06:38 in a very chilly morning for their 22nd visit of this season! Arriving to load Iron Ore at the CN dock for the 2nd time this season. Normally they have been on Coal Runs when coming into Duluth, (29 times they have loaded coal). They arrived at the CN dock at 07:51 and began the tedious process of loading the ore in the COLD weather! Things seem to slow down in these below zero temperatures, things break!

This week, we have been missing out on seeing the stars and aurora that some of the world has witnessed due to the cloud...
01/02/2025

This week, we have been missing out on seeing the stars and aurora that some of the world has witnessed due to the cloudy skies we've had.
Jan 1 2024 🌙 pic
Last year, we were lucky to see a hint of Aurora and starry skies throughout most of the HeartoftheContinent.

There are three large public land areas that have been designated by Dark Sky International in the HeartoftheContinent Region, and great starry sky viewing can be experienced throughout this area on clear nights.
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Voyageurs National Park, and Quetico Provincial Park are official dark sky areas.
Neighbouring gateway communities are joining in on celebrating our night skies. In December, the Gunflint Trail and Grand Marais celebrated with a dark sky festival, and Ely MN is starting their festival on the 10th of January.

Forecast is saying clear skies this weekend 🤞

Please mind your outside lighting to help keep the skies in our region filled with stars 🌟






#2024





The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, renowned as one of the largest International Dark Sky Sanctuaries, offers a...
01/02/2025


The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, renowned as one of the largest International Dark Sky Sanctuaries, offers a unique opportunity to experience the awe-inspiring beauty of starry nights. Such sanctuaries are vital in preserving the natural, scientific, and cultural essence of our nocturnal environment, ensuring that ecologically sensitive areas and the universal heritage of the night sky remain protected. In this spirit of celebration and conservation, we invite you to the first annual Ely Dark Sky Festival on January 10th and 11th, 2025, in Ely, Minnesota. This festival promises to be a wondrous event for stargazers, nature enthusiasts, and anyone passionate about preserving our planet's natural wonders. Join us to explore the celestial beauty above and participate in a range of educational and cultural activities designed to enrich your understanding and appreciation for the night sky.

Splashy, splash Grand Marais, Minnesota
12/29/2024


Splashy, splash

Grand Marais, Minnesota

White pinesThis has been a bucket list shot for me, so of course when the moment happened, my camera battery was dead....
12/29/2024


White pines
This has been a bucket list shot for me, so of course when the moment happened, my camera battery was dead. It thankfully had just enough juice left for a single shot of this scene.


Quality outdoor products and services are available right here in the HeartoftheContinent Round off your winter aftern...
12/26/2024

Quality outdoor products and services are available right here in the HeartoftheContinent


Round off your winter afternoon going ice fishing with a Kicksled. Kicksleds have been used to get around for many generations and are part of the Finnish and Nordic culture. ESLA kicksleds are proudly made in Finland and are available for rent or purchase at Ely Bike and Kicksled.


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214 Main Street West
Atikokan, ON
P0T1C0

Telephone

+18075981074

Website

http://www.traveltheheart.org/

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Can't say it better than @jamesvukelich #Repost @jamesvukelich Happy winter solstice!!! I want to wish you all the very best this season. Miigwech bizindawiyeg Thank you for listening! #allofmyrelatives

#Repost @javamoosegrandmarais Honored to share the gift of reading to our kindergarten classrooms. Staci @stacikitchibitobig Drouillard’s children’s book is incredible. Available Drury Lane Books #HeartoftheContinent WTIP North Shore Community Radio Visit Cook County MN

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The name Heart of the Continent points to the geographical and geological significance of this unique region. The core of this natural area, on the Ontario/Minnesota border, includes Quetico Provincial Park, Superior National Forest and Voyageurs National Park along with many other State and Provincial Parks. These places are: • geographically located near the center of the North American continent. • geologically a part of the Canadian Shield, a stable core of North America around which the rest of the continent has grown through geological processes. Home of a labyrinth of interconnected freshwater lakes, one of the world’s largest managed green-spaces and shorelines the world’s largest of lakes.

National Geographic in Partnership with local organizations have developed over 20 geotourism mapguides around the world to highlight the places and attractions most recommended by locals. Included in this list is Greater Yellowstone, Crown of the Continent, Sierra Nevada Geotourism, Islands of Bahamas, Four Corners Geotourism and Heart of the Continent https://www.traveltheheart.org/