This Island Has THOUSANDS of Fossils | Drummond Island, Michigan
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- I think every rock we touched at this beach had a more than 400-million-year-old fossil in it. Two stories from a weekend on Drummond Island, Michigan: One about the gorgeous Fossil Ledges, and another about accidentally encountering one of the rarest habitats in the world.
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/ michigansupperpeninsula
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Thank you to Jeannie from Drummond Island, and to Dr. Shannon Dulin for their second opinions on various facts in this video!
Find Me Elsewhere:
• Find stickers, hats, and other merchandise related to these videos: www.alexisdahl....
• Want to get semi-monthly e-mails about my latest videos and other happenings? You can sign up here: www.alexisdahl....
• Want to work together or learn more about my work? Contact me at www.alexisdahl....
• On Instagram, I upload nature photos, plus odds and ends: / alexis.writes
Key Research Sources:
www.visitdrumm...
www.visitdrumm...
ss.sites.mtu.e...
ss.sites.mtu.e...
commonminerals...
www.visitdrumm...
www.qcc.cuny.e...
www.legislatur...
project.geo.ms...
project.geo.ms...
mnfi.anr.msu.e...
www.naturecons...
www.nature.org...
toarc.com/wp-c...
dalesrocks.org...
www.visitdrumm...
gis-michigan.o...
www.researchga...
www.michigan.g...
umorf.ummp.lsa...
archives.datap...
Every time I watch one of your videos I always marvel at how you're able to take something seemingly so mundane, peel back the surface, and expose a wonderful and richly complex existence. As though the very act of shining a light on something reveals its worth.
Aw, thank you so much! 😊 I'm truly surprised every time that happens, ha ha. In particular, with this project, I didn't expect Maxton Plains to be anything out of the ordinary until I read a little more about it!
I’m glad Michigan has Alexis Dahl. Another shockingly insightful video.
My family vacationed there during my childhood!! Always come back every year to enjoy the island. Go to the plains at night with a clear sky! Trust me, it's worth it.
That sounds beautiful! I know I'll have to make a return visit at some point, so I'll add that to my list of things to see!
Yep, "Leave nothing but footsteps and take nothing but photos"....excellent words to live by.....As usual, YOU ROCK. This is fabulous!
My name is Maxton, named after the Maxton Plains of Drummond. Very cool to see this place I've grown up around documented!
My brothers name is Maxton, named after Maxton road!
I lived in De Tour, the town you took the ferry from. My father worked at the dolomite quarry on Drummond Island. I live out of state now It's so cool to see a bit of home. Great video.
As a non native of Michigan, now current resident. I love learning about this state and it's history
Another infectious delivery of Michigan knowledge , I'm always so excited when I get notice there is fresh Alex Dahl video content to review great job keep them coming
Your channel came up in my feed and I'm glad it did. You have a great enthusiastic style that keeps one captivated.
Growing up in Cheboygan I enjoyed this very much, kinda in my back yard in the big scheme of things. And I also learned a few things I didn't know about the island. Thanks.
As usual, wonderfully done video! Very informative! Thank you for exploring our island and sharing some of it’s interesting natural features.
(Jeannie)
Very cool, I saw something similar in Kentucky/Tennessee at a lake called Dale Hollow where you can rent house boats. A lot of the shores were covered in layers of fossils and the bottom of the lake is littered in geodes, very cool place!
I very much enjoy your videos. Thanks for sharing your adventures!
Thank you very much, Michael!
Wow- the YT algorithm fed me something worthwhile. A very welcome and well executed travel log- thanks!
I absolutely love your very informative videos!
My husband and I have made a commitment to visit every county in Michigan. We've got the entire lower covered and well over half the upper. Please keep up the videos. You've provided us with some great information.
And we're always very respectful of the environment. Always taking pictures, leaving footprints, and creating memories. Can't wait for june to get here. We'll be back in the upper once again
Everywhere on Earth, and Michigan, specifically, has a fascinating history that's often found very near if not right on the surface. We usually don't even bother to wonder. Thank you for finding, enjoying, and sharing these gems with such enthusiasm, Alexis. Your life's splash is in the videos you create, and it's leaving behind really good ripples.
GO BLUE!
I live about 20 miles due north of Drummond Island, near Bruce Mines, Ontario. We have lots of puddingstone up here!
Don't say that too much. You'll have everyone up there tearing the place up to take pudding stones home to sell and they'll destroy the landscape.
Sounds like a fur piece.
I doubt anyone would go out of their way for some crusty sea shells or will they every run low on available fossils
Alexis, Wonderful! I appreciate that there must be a lot of work to cobble these videos together.This was fresh informative, interesting and entertaining. I'm looking forward to your next release! Really well done!😀
Thank you so much, Bryon! I appreciate that!
Growing up in the 60's and 70's, an uncle of mine was part owner of a hunting lodge on the island. I spent many, many days on Drummond. In those days there was nothing there but nature. Uncle had a WWII 4x4 truck that we used to explore, and got stuck many times, so I totally get the side-by-side ORV rental! I understand that now development has arrived on the island :( Thank you for an excellent video!
Thanks for sharing some of your family's story, Michael! I always really getting to enjoy hearing people's experiences of places like this. I can't speak much to the development part these days (except for sleeping and meals, I spent almost all of my time outside), but the nature is definitely beautiful!
I live in Michigan and I've never visited this island. It's on my list now, and I promise to take nothing away, even though I'm a fossil collector. Your videos are wonderful! Thank you.
Hello from North Carolina. My second video. Great information. Enjoy your enthusiasm, passions and talent for story telling. You make geology rock.
Excellent video about our beautiful island.
If you come back in the summer, you can rent kayaks. We kayaked around several other islands from Drummond, beautiful up there. Great video Alexis
Very well done as usual! There are a couple of places near Alpena, MI that are similar to the Drummond Island fossils that you highlighted.
I had no idea this was "here", that's the most beautiful and interesting parking lot I've ever seen! 😂
Oh man! I might have to go visit this sometime soon! Sending love from Grand Rapids ❤😊
Very neat and amusing video.
Great work.
Alexis can just write my UP bucket list. BTW enjoy the Northern Lights tonight up there!
Alexis .. this video is so informative. Can't say thank you enough for your time and energy into making the videos for us all to learn from and enjoy.
I'm a newbie here and all I can say is you definitely hold my attention on what your teachin us and yes...... I've been binge watchin your channel!! As a forester I hold great respect for what this earth teaches us just as I respect you and what your doing. Keep at it, people love to learn Alexis!!
Thank you so much, Harold! I'm glad you're here!
I really, really like this young lady. I wonder if there is any other place as interesting as Michigan? I've been to every state but Alaska and two others and Alexis makes them all pale in comparison:-) I turned down a trip once to the Upper Peninsula because of business and have regretted it ever since. My wife told me how nice it was but we never got back. Maybe I can make it this summer.
I grew up picking those fossils from the farm fields on Manitoulin island. There are piles of rocks filled with fossils like the ones you show in the video, in the bushes beside the fields or in rock piles or fence rows. Most old barns and farmhouses here have fossils in the foundations, as well as flat Dolomite or limestone sheets hand carved out of the bedrock and used as concrete in the early 1900s in the barns and houses. They are flattened smooth as a table by the glaciers with very small directional grooves showing the last directions of glacier travel. There are some with vugs with large carbonate and Dolomites crystals as well, curved V’s and soccer ball crystals, stretched cubes and dominoes.
Awesome video, we live about half a hour away and never been there. Thank you so much for taking us along.
You are my new favorite science person: AKA Rock Landslide! I'm a superhero!
I saw the tagline, "Older than Dinosaurs" and that was a personal invitation to watch the video. Another fun and fact-filled video. Hmmm, Alavar... a new word for my vocabulary. The alavar pavement brought something else to mind. Have you been to the missile launch sites north o Copper Harbor? I'd love to see a video about them, with your flair for little know facts and history. Thanks for the reminder to treat not only this area, but any area we visit with respect. Thanks so much, and have a fantastic Summer. Tony
Thanks, Tony! And great thinking about the Keweenaw Rocket Range. That is very high on my list of sites to visit! It's a bit tricky to get to without the right vehicle (or any kind of skill on a mountain bike), but I'd love to get out there someday.
As a Michigander I love your videos! I have an idea for you about the Asylum lake area in Kalamazoo if ever interested!
in the UK we call those "alvars" limestone pavements ...theyre a unique environment sheltering some really rare plant species including wild chives, gentians and orchids...even a few tree species like juniper and dwarf willow.
Cool video and very interesting to see the places on Drummond Island, kind of nice that its so difficult to get to because it won't get messed with.
Thanks for sharing
The next time you are in the eastern UP, you should consider checking out Bush Bay Trail aka The trail to Narnia. It is just east of Cedarville, past Port Dolomite.
The Gem of the Huron! Had many good trips there so glad to visit it again through your video. Thank you Alex.
You had me at alvar! Funny but I sensed it coming from your introduction. We encountered an alvar in Bruce Peninsula National Park in Ontario. Great video.
Thank you, Alexis! I appreciate your time invested in all of these videos even though it might be a little cold haha it is Michigan our wonderful State. A quick thank-you also to Mr. Dahl for supporting you in your adventures, you rock man. Have a great day! 🙂
Another great video. My wife and I biked the island a few years ago and even were brave enough to take a quick swim in a VERY cold Lake Huron. Thanks for all off your videos!
I love how you finished painting your studio!!!
Been there thank you for taking me back
Very interesting. I shall have to visit.
You are fascinating.
Nice work on this.
I liked that shirt and didn’t realize at first what UP stood for lol.
There really is a nice diversity in that area of the US. I suppose every region has its interesting things
Great video as usual - thank you!
Thanks for adding another place to put on our list of places to visit and explore in Michigan. Very informative video thanks!
your videos are very informative and id love to visit some of these spots back home in the future.
Yay, UP! I'm visiting ASAP!❤
Thank you.😊
as always love your videos. good job
Your a wealth of knowledge really enjoy hearing your topics of our great State and showing that our Planet Climate has always changed and always will, with or without humans
Crazy to see my hometown of drummond island on youtube. Can't believe your giving up my secret fossil spot 😮 lol. I used to steer the ferry boat everytime I went acrossed. (Uncle is the captain). Thanks for the good video.
Well I think you just inspired my next family vacation. Time to find tent camping on Drummond Island.
Enjoying your UP discovery adventures. You may wish to visit and explore the Fiborn Karst Preserve and former limestone quarry if you have not done so yet. Interesting place with history, ruins, geology and altered landscapes being reclaimed by nature.
We love your videos! You have a great video presence. It's great to hear cool things about the UP. We just love this place.
Fantastic video! You should come back in June when the prairie smoke is in blossom. The alvar looks completely different!
Great video!
This was awesome, thanks again Alexis.
Thank you, always love your videos...I live in Syracuse, NY but my family has a camp on lake Ontario...my childhood was spent exploring the shores and cracks and crevices of that beautiful body of water...wish I had you there with me...maybe I would have known what I was looking at!
I look forward to each and every video you put out. Thank you for bringing a little joy to my life. :)
Another cool place I had no idea about. Thanks for sharing
! Cheers from the 920 of Wisconsin.
Awesome video! I was just there on Drummond Island in March. It was really cool. And if you are careful, you can drive a regular car out there. I have an all-wheel drive Cadillac SUV and we were just fine. Obviously there are some trails that you do not go down but you can get all the way to the Northern shore in a regular car. You just have to be careful.
Respectfully, collecting specimens there (if permitted) doesn't really have more impact than from a quarry or another lake shore. The dusty item on a shelf might also equate to a treasured gift to a grandchild.
How about if a million people each year are collecting specimens?
Word gets around. Many natural wonders are being decimated by so many people visiting and collecting lately. Many states and federal parks have been overwhelmed in recent years.
I get what you're saying. I do. There are activities, like mines and quarries, that do much more damage faster. What's one or two little shells going to hurt.
Well, now that thousands of people have seen this, and many say in the comments that they'll be visiting this place now, with their friends and family, who will turn pass the word to their friends... 10 years from now, there may be so many people visiting that you'd have to stand in line to get close to the shore.. much less the wait in traffic for the ferry.
It snowballs. The last ten years have been crazy.
So the idea is, let's leave these places as they are, for our grandchildren, and their grandchildren, to see and explore for themselves is what lovers of nature are saying.
25 lbs a year is the limit. but not From within the boundaries of any National Park or National Lakeshore.From private land without the express permission of the landowner.Or
From historical sites such as parks or areas designated for preservation
I live in Montreal (also an island, lol) and was fascinated to discover some years ago that fossils can be easily found here. Mostly I find crinoid disks as well as shells, but I have also found a plant fossil and one small trilobite. Most of these have come from fragments of large stones placed along the banks of the St Lawrence a river to prevent erosion, so unfortunately I do not know their exact origin. Rocks with fossils can also be found in the masonry of older buildings and lamppost bases. I love looking for fossils in odd places. Occasionally I will find shells or disks that have fossilized into pyrite. Those are really cool looking.
Manitoba, Canada has some alvars between Lakes Winnipeg and Manitoba, a region with a rather obvious name - the Interlake
Go in the late spring when the many flowers are in bloom!
Very cool!
Just found your videos. I'm a life long yooper. I see you have some videos on rocks local to here but I didnt see a Yooper lite hunting video which if you haven't done it yet I can see you enjoying this.
Awesome find. I'd love to visit that spot.
I lived there for 2 years ...took some time off from college and went back to nature. Lovely Ceder forests along the shores...gathered heirloom apples from long long abandon orchards , Collected wild rice in a canoe. Grazed on wild blue and strawberries . Morel mushrooms, and lots of fresh fish.... We would rub two dolomite rocks together over a soup for the minerals
As usual, your video was entertaining and very informative. I didn't know that the Niagara Escarpment extended that far west. I'm always learning something new from your videos. Also, thank you for the wonderful Great Lakes footage. I used to live in Western NY and loved Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
great story! thank you
wooooooo....great way to spend a Friday! I love story time!!
Very cool spot. I'm mapping karst and epi-karst features on the east unit of the Hiawatha National Forest right now and have seen some similar formations, highly fractured bedrock pavement and interesting ledges and outcrops with the odd fossilized coral here and there. Thanks for the video.
Fantastic episode.
I was born in lower Michigan, but 60 miles from the UP ,so been there alot.
I wonder why you don't do episode on the gold in the UP i still have black granite with gold in it 😮
My late uncle Leo lived on the island about 30 years, until his passing a few years back.
Great video, Alexis. I have to laugh though; it seems you were using my book.... 😅
Hey, thanks! And ha ha, I think this might be a "great minds think alike" situation. 🙂 The key sources I used are in the video description!
@@AlexisDahlThis is awesome! Thank you for the source links.
Very interesting
I’ve been on Drummond a few times riding off-road motorcycles
Back in the 90’s there was a lodge restaurant and golf course called The Rock that was owned by Tom Monaghan who at that time owned the Detroit Tigers baseball team
Don’t know if that still operates or not
@@brianmerillat502 It's still there. Changed ownership a few times, and probably looks a bit different.
if you get the chance, head over to St. Joseph Island. there's lots of fossils there and Puddingstone!
Nice video 👍👍
When I see these videos I go back in time that I was 8-10 years old and I was sitting on my Grandparents home on Lake Huron. As children we would sit on the rocks with a hammer and brake them up. I would see some that looked like fossils. Some that after I broke would have pretty colors in them. I just wish I have my older wisdom bake then.
I love Drummond Island
New subscriber and follower here! 👍⬆️🔔🤝😊! I know when I was at Pyramid Lake Nevada, there were marine fossils EVERYWHERE!
Alexis Dahl is so cool. I got to visit Drummond Island now LoL
Drummond Island is a gem. If you ever get the chance to go you better. Did you see any cactus there? Opuntia fragilis. There is a grove of American Chestnut too.
Hi Alexis, I'm looking to identify a rare bird that visits my pond in Mason County,Mi.
Your content is Great! Love the recent Drummond island vid!
you should do a video on float copper. I heard about it recently, and it's beautiful, but i know nothing about it
Very cool....we tried to take my Rav 4 to the Ledges. We got to that "pavement"....happy to know what that was! Drove another 500 ft past that and turned back. We will get an ORV net time!
I’ve found pieces of coral in Houghton Lake. Do you ever expand outwards below the bridge?
Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
I love to make it below the bridge when I'm able to! The travel is a bit trickier, but I'm always happy to look into ideas in the Lower Peninsula.
There's another similar place in the mitten that I enjoy. Same situation. Literally hundreds/thousands of fossils/fragments on the Lakeshore. Limestone that still has the ancient ocean waves patterns imprinted.
Thank you.
Alvars and Douglass Houghton: Long after I first watched this I read an article on a threatened plant called Houghton's Goldenrod, named after our guy Douglass Houghton. Among many things, Houghton was an avid botanist. He discovered this plant on the sandy shores of Lake Michigan. Guess where else Houghton's Goldenrod is found - alvars! Thanks to your video I know what alvars are! Small, interconnected world, eh?
I think Fort Vancouver might also have an arguable claim to the last British fort in the US.
Very Cool!
We’ve had a summer home on Drummond for going on 40+ years now.
The reason there was a British fort on the island after the War Of 1812 was over was that the provisional treaty Had Drummond Island on the British side of the border & St Joseph Island on the US side. But St Joe's is more readily accessible from the (now) Canadian side, while Drummond is more readily accessible from the US side ... so when the treaty's details were finalized, the islands' jurisdictions were swapped.
thanks going there 1 October