Lake Superior & Ishpeming Railroad Ore dock
| marine, dock (maritime)
USA /
Michigan /
Marquette /
World
/ USA
/ Michigan
/ Marquette
World / United States / Michigan
marine, dock (maritime)
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This steel-framed dock juts out almost a quarter of a mile into Lake Superior, 75 feet above the water. It's a monumental sight to see - and to hear when loading is in progress. The railroad approach is a mile-long earthen embankment. Railroad cars bring taconite pellets from Cleveland-Cliffs Iron's taconite processing facility near their vast Tilden and Empire open-pit mines south of Ishpeming and Negaunee. The rail cars continually move out along the top of the ore dock and empty taconite pellets down into the ore dock's 200 pockets.
(Taconite is a concentrated form of iron-bearing rock, formed with clay into balls for compact, cost-effective shipment.)
Some 20 to 30 bulk ore carriers a month come to load taconite. Chutes from each pocket are lowered into the vessel's cargo hold, and taconite thunders down into it. Then the ship shifts 20 or 30 feet (winches being tightened or loosened let it move), and new pockets empty into the hold. It's a noisy, impressive spectacle - a worthwhile opportunity to view big freighters in action. Vessels that carry taconite are usually older 600-footers. Thousand-footers usually come to Marquette only to unload coal.
(Taconite is a concentrated form of iron-bearing rock, formed with clay into balls for compact, cost-effective shipment.)
Some 20 to 30 bulk ore carriers a month come to load taconite. Chutes from each pocket are lowered into the vessel's cargo hold, and taconite thunders down into it. Then the ship shifts 20 or 30 feet (winches being tightened or loosened let it move), and new pockets empty into the hold. It's a noisy, impressive spectacle - a worthwhile opportunity to view big freighters in action. Vessels that carry taconite are usually older 600-footers. Thousand-footers usually come to Marquette only to unload coal.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 46°34'46"N 87°23'17"W
- False Creek 2659 km
- Port of Portland - Terminal 6 2709 km
- Saba National Marine Park 3908 km
- Safety Cove State Marine Park 4198 km
- Driftwood Bay State Marine Park 4199 km
- Sunny Cove State Marine Park 4206 km
- National Marine Park of Alonnisos 8264 km
- Dredged Material 9553 km
- Camp Foster 11185 km
- Tanjung Lesah - National Marine Park 13713 km
- Marquette Charter Township 9 km
- Negaunee Township 14 km
- Dead River Storage Basin 21 km
- Ishpeming Township 23 km
- Big Bay, Michigan 35 km
- Ely Township 36 km
- Champion Township 37 km
- Powell Township 39 km
- Michigamme Township 47 km
- Keweenaw Peninsula 99 km
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