The Waves of Lake Erie - who would've thought?

[packman]

"... the tribe of Native Americans who lived along its southern shore called the lake "Erige" which means “cat” because of its unpredictable and sometimes violently dangerous nature. Lake Erie’s nasty storms have claimed no less than 1,400 ships and as high as 8,000 according to one estimate. Some say, Lake Erie has more "wrecks per square mile" than any other freshwater location on earth."


Seems like Lake Erie has some good conditions for spectacular waves - a relatively shallow depth and high winds crossing over it. Some really jaw-dropping photos:


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http://www.amusingplanet.com/2016/02/the-spectacular-waves-of-lake-erie.html

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Stunning photos! Thanks for posting, my dear packman. n/t

[sarge43]

2. Illustrations for a graphic fantasy novel.

Stunning. Thanks for posting

[jpak]

3. That's some scary shit!

[Arugula Latte]

4. I've seen frozen waves near the shore on Erie. It's really something.

"The lake was angry that day, my friends."

[femmocrat]

5. That one with the skull is ... downright eerie!

Spectacular photos!

[Solly Mack]

6. Beautiful!

Scary, still beautiful.

[Avalux]

7. Those are spectacular! I walked on a frozen Lake Erie in my bare feet once.

Don't ask.....

[Mendocino]

8. Many a lakes captains

consider Erie the worst. On the upper lakes you get higher waves but also longer valleys, think a lengthy but somewhat even roller coaster. Erie has non-stop chop, think of sailing over a boulder field, shaking every second.

[alfredo]

11. The Straits between St Clair and Erie has a wicked current.

[2naSalit]

9. Wow!

[Leonardo Da Biker]

10. I live on Lake Erie

Been here all my life and ya, she's a bitch.

[flamin lib]

12. Lake Erie is a very shallow lake, most of it between 60 and 90 feet deep.

Because of the shallow depth the peaks between waves is pretty close so instead of long swells there are breakers very close together. That's the worst case for shipping. A peak at the bow and another at the stern with no support in the middle. Ships literally fatigue until they break in half.

Went into the gulf of Mexico during a tropical storm once. Sixty foot fishing boat with waves 15 feet and 60 feet between peaks. The boat went up 30 feet at 2 Gs and then down 30 feet in freefall. What a ride!

The few of us that didn't suffer motion sickness had the run of the boat once we reached the fishing grounds 60 miles past the depression where the water was flat and the breeze was gentle.

Coming back was exciting too.

[Eleanors38]

13. L. Okeechobee (FL) is 35 x 30 miles, and averages 9 ft deep...

The biggest problem it has is with the Army Corp's dikes which were breached in 1928: A hurricane squatted in it, blowing the water out. At least 2,500 drowned.

Most mariners are not fond of shallow water.

[Xipe Totec]

14. This one is spooktacular

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[jjblazes]

22. The Grim Reaper pointing at its next victim. Pretty trippy.

[DI Freighter Watcher]

15. Fantastic photography

Thanks for sharing this, fantastic photos. I've seen 35ft waves on Lake Huron but couldn't capture images like those. Erie is notorious for sudden storms and the shallow water adds to the danger. The Lakes are captivating but demand respect, watch out for undertow even in knee deep water you can be pulled out.

[awoke_in_2003]

16. Erie is one of the things I miss most about Cleveland. nt

[Bohemianwriter]

17. Excellent for sating!!

[Nitram]

18. Large rollers running against a powerful wind, making the waves stand up tall...

...and and whipping the top off in a spray of foam.

[marble falls]

19. www.surfesa.org/news/tag/lake-erie

[Lucky Luciano]

20. Amazing!!!! nt

[warrprayer]

21. Lived in Erie Pa. last 25 Years

Went down on Presque Isle (peninsula on Lake Erie) once or twice during nasty storms.
Left quickly out of pure fear of being washed out to sea in car.
whitecaps are "Lake Erie baring her teeth".
Thanks for the awesome photos!