x
Breaking News
More () »

WATCH: Lake Superior cliff collapse narrowly misses kayakers

The paddlers were touring in an area where sandstone cliffs stand up to about 200 feet above the water.
Credit: AP
This Aug. 2, 2003 photo shows a kayaker in Lake Superior off the cliffs at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising, Mich. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore could end up on the back of a quarter a few years from now. (AP Photo/Bob Brodbeck)

MUNISING, Mich — Kayakers on a tour of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in northern Michigan narrowly escaped injury when a large section of cliff collapsed near them into Lake Superior.

WLUC-TV reports the kayakers were in an area where sandstone cliffs stand up to about 200 feet above the water.

Van Ouellette-Ballas of Northern Waters Adventures, one of the guides, says smaller rocks had fallen near the group Monday before the massive section fell. He says they "thought we were at a safe distance" and were paddling away when the large collapse missed them by about 50 feet.

MLive.com reports nature photographers Jon Smithers and Craig Blacklock were on a boat and Smithers turned a drone toward the sounds of the collapse in time to capture it on video.

Before You Leave, Check This Out