Sawtooth Mountains (Minnesota)

The Sawtooth Mountains on the Lake Superior shore, looking west by southwest from Grand Marais, Minnesota

The Sawtooth Mountains are a range of mountains on the North Shore of Lake Superior in the U.S. state of Minnesota, extending about 30 miles (50 km) from Carlton Peak near Tofte on the west, to Grand Marais on the east.[1]

Description

This cross-section of the Lake Superior basin shows the lakebed east of the Sawtooths, but exhibits the tilted strata of volcanic rock which form the mountains.

The Sawtooth Mountains rise from Lake Superior at angles between 8 and 20 degrees and drop off steeply on their north sides. [2] They received their name as a result of their relatively uniform size, angles, and regularity of spacing; seen from Lake Superior to the east, "the visible crest line thus presents a remarkable profile, resembling the teeth of an immense saw."[1]

The Sawtooth Mountains and Lake Superior shore from Palisade Head

From the west, rising from the Temperance River, major prominences are Carlton Peak above Temperance River State Park, Leveaux Mountain and a knob immediately across the Onion River, Moose Mountain, the Eagle Mountain at Lutsen, peaks along a ridge above Cascade River State Park, Murphy Mountain, and Sawtooth Bluff above Grand Marais.

Tourism

The Sawtooths are home to many mountain peaks, rivers, waterfalls, and parks. Wildlife is abundant in the Sawtooths, including eagles, hawks, deer, mountain lion, moose, and many small mammals. Some of the notable sites include:

Lutsen Mountains Ski Resort is located in the Sawtooths, just northwest of the town of Lutsen; the area includes Moose Mountain, one of the higher peaks of the range, and Eagle Mountain (to be distinguished from the other Eagle Mountain in Cook County, the highest peak in the state located well inland from the lakeshore).

Notes

  1. 1 2 Upham, pp. 3, 147.
  2. ↑ Ojankagas, Plate 12

Sources

Coordinates: 47°40′N 90°42′W / 47.667°N 90.700°W / 47.667; -90.700


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