Great Lakes Shipping Season Begins (Image of the Week)

The St. Marys River between Michigan and Ontario is typically frozen January through March. The US Army Corp of Engineers performs maintenance on regulated access channels (the Soo Locks) during the coldest months.

The Soo Locks enable ships to travel between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes. The 2025 shipping season opened March 21st with the help of US Coast Guard ice-breaking ships. Landsat imagery captures the freeze-thaw cycle of the river and access for ships.

Shipping routes across Lake Superior are critical for the transportation of goods and resources.

Landsat imagery is available at no cost to scientists and communities around the world.