Sault Ste. Marie is the name given to a pair of cities, one in the US and one in Canada, on either bank of the St. Mary River. The cities are built around the "Soo" locks which connect Lake Huron to Lake Superior. The two lakes have a 21 foot elevation difference. Prior to the construction of the locks one had to shoot the rapids (rapids: sault in French) to go between the two lakes. The locks of the Soo are among the busiest in the world connecting the westernmost Great Lake's coal and iron country to the car factories of Detroit and to the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Today was Canada Day (4th of July equivalent). Everyone was in a festive mood; there was a tugboat race along the St. Mary River and music & food in the town pavillion by the locks. By the time the fireworks were fired (sunset comes very late at the western edge of the time zone) we were fast asleep. Few pictures of the day because of the weather.
