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State of Michigan description plaque at site about Kitch-iti-kipi spring

Kitch-iti-kipi (pronounced "KITCH-i-tee-KI-pee" with short "i"s) is Michigan's largest natural freshwater spring.^[1] ^[2] ^[3] ^[4] The name means big cold water ^[4] and is sometimes referred to as The Big Spring.^[1] ^[3]

Kitch-iti-kipi spring is one of Michigan's Upper Peninsula's major tourist attractions. ^[1] It is northwest of Manistique about six miles west on US 2 and twelve miles north on M-149 in Thompson Township of Schoolcraft County at the northern terminus.^[5] It is located within the Palms Book State Park.^[1] ^[6]

1 Features
2 Raft
3 History
4 Old Indian legends
5 References

[edit] Features

Underwater trees and branches can easily be seen.

Kitch-iti-kipi is an oval pool measuring 300 feet by 175 feet and is about 40 feet deep with an emerald bottom. ^[1] From the fissures in underlying limestone flows 10,000 gallons per minute of spring water throughout the year at a constant temperature of 45 degrees.^[1] ^[3]

Hydraulic pressure forces the groundwater to the surface. It is not known exactly where this enormous volume of water comes from. The spring's pool bowl is similar to other sinkholes except it is connected with an aquifer (underground stream) to Indian Lake. The small spring pool was created when the top layer of limestone dissolved away and collapsed into the cave already created by the underground water.

Ancient tree trunks with mineral encrusted branches can be seen, as well as fish that appear to be suspended in the crystal clear waters of the spring.^[1] The fish are lake trout, brown trout and brook trout. On occassion you will spot yellow perch and other species that move between Big Spring and Indian Lake.

A kaleidoscope effect of ever-changing shapes and forms are caused by the clouds of sand kept in constant motion by the gushing waters that are created by the fast moving waters of Big Spring.^[1]

[edit] Raft

Kitch-iti-kipi viewing raft

A self-operated observation raft guides park visitors to vantage points overlooking the underwater features.^[1] ^[3]

This raft is on a cable that is pulled across the spring pool by the park visitors. It is often times pulled by a park employee. There are viewing windows where the visitors can see the fast flowing spring. One can look over the side of the raft for viewing as well. The spring is crystal clear and is enjoyed from the shore by many visitors.

The Civilian Conservation Corps constructed the raft, dock, concession stand and ranger's quarters with other groups that participated.^[5]

[edit] History

The state of Michigan acquired Kitch-iti-kip in 1926. History records that John I. Bellaire, owner of a Manistique Five and Dime store, fell in love with the black hole spring when he discovered it in the thick wilderness of Michigan's Upper Peninsula in the 1920s. It was hidden in a tangle of fallen trees and loggers were using the nearby area as a dump.^[5]

Bellaire saw its potential as a public recreational spot. He could have purchased the spring and adjoining property himself, however persuaded Frank Palms of the Palms Book Land Company to sell the spring and 90 acres to the state of Michigan for $10. The property deed requires the property to be forever used as a public park, bearing the name Palms Book State Park.^[5] The State on Michigan has since acquired adjacant land so the park now encompasses over 300 acres.^[1]

[edit] Old Indian legends

The following are indian legends that some say were made up by Bellaire himself to publicize the park.^[4] ^[5]

One legend goes that Kitch-iti-kipi was a young chieftain of the area. He told his girlfriend that he loved her far more than the other dark-haired maidens dancing near his birchbark wigwam. She claimed she wanted to put him through a test of love and demanded, "Prove it!" The test of his devotion was that he must set sail in his canoe on this spring lake deep in the conifer swamp. She would then leap from an overhanging branch in an act of faith. He was to catch her from his canoe proving his love. ^[1] He then took his fragil canoe onto the icy waters of the lake looking for her. Eventually his canoe tipped over in the endeavor. He drowned in the attempt to satisfy the vanity of his love for this indian maid. It turned out she was back at her village meanwhile with other indian maidens laughing her head off about his silly quest. The spring was then named in his memory. ^[2]

Another legend was that they took a drop of honey on a piece of birch bark and dipped it into the spring. This was then presented to a loved one to make them true forever. ^[5]

Another legend talks about the tamarack trees growing on the banks of the spring. A small piece of the bark was ground in a mortar and pestle. The remnants were then placed in an individual's empty pockets and magically would be replaced by glittering gold at exactly midnight that night.^[5]

Other indian legends tell of some Chippewa parents who came to the pool seeking names for their newborn sons or daughters. They supposedly found names like Satu (darling), Kakushika (big eye), Natukoro (lovely flower) and We-shi (little fish) in the sounds of the rippling water. ^[5] Still other legends say the Chippewa indians had even attributed special healing powers to the spring waters. ^[5]

The name Kitch-iti-kipi is said to have many meanings in the Chippewa's language. Some were “The Great Water”, ”The Blue Sky I See”, and “Bubbling Spring”. Other Chippewa indians called it “The Roaring“, "Drum Water”, and the “Sound of Thunder” - even though there is total silence coming from the spring! ^[5]