Kitch-iti-kipi | |
---|---|
Big Spring | |
Location | Palms Book State Park Thompson Township, Michigan |
Coordinates | 46°00′14.83″N 86°22′55.24″W / 46.0041194°N 86.3820111°W |
Elevation | 620 feet (190 m) |
Type | Spring |
Provides water for | Indian Lake |
Depth | 40 feet (12.2 m) |
Kitch-iti-kipi ("KITCH-i-tee-KI-pee" with short "i"s),[1] located within Palms Book State Park, is Michigan's largest natural freshwater spring.[1][2][3] The name means "big cold spring" in the Ojibwe language.[1] It is also sometimes referred to as the Big Spring.[2][4] Kitch-iti-kipi, or "Mirror of Heaven" as it is referred to today,[5] was originally given that name by the Ojibwe.[4]
Kitch-iti-kipi spring is one of the major tourist attractions on Michigan's Upper Peninsula.[4] It is located in Thompson Township within Schoolcraft County just northwest of the city of Manistique. It is also within Palms Book State Park.[6][7] The state of Michigan was granted the spring with accompanying land in 1926, under the condition that it be turned into a public park. The state has since acquired surrounding land and expanded the park considerably.[4]