 The light in 2004 | |
 | |
| Location | Munising, Michigan, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 46°24′45″N86°39′50″W / 46.4125°N 86.664°W |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1908  |
| Construction | steel |
| Height | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Shape | conical |
| Markings | White |
| Light | |
| First lit | 1908 |
| Focal height | 107 ft (33 m) |
| Characteristic | F R |
The Munising Rear Range Light works with the Munising Front Range Light to project a line of light out into Lake Superior in order to guide boats from the open lake into the safe harbor at Munising, Michigan. [1] This harbor is a natural bay (thus providing protection from easterly or westerly storms) and sheltered on the north by Grand Island. Grand Island however provides a serious navigation hazard, and as boats navigate in the East Channel, there are several dangerous rock ledges that have the potential to sink a vessel. This pair of range lights replaced the ineffective Grand Island East Channel Light in 1905. The history of these lighthouses is documented by Terry Pepper [2] and is not reproduced here.
The light is located on the hill south of the village of Munising. [3] It is only a 33-foot (10 m) steel tower, but located up on the hill, it is 107 feet (33 m) above the lake level. It contains an incandescent electric light inside a red shield.
