Despite being the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Minnesota isn’t exactly known for its beaches. But we think it should be! Sandy beaches aren’t common, but they do exist here (here are some of our favorites). Rocky beaches are much more common, especially along Minnesota’s North Shore. Today, we want to share a North Shore beach that is covered in rocks but is anything but common. This pink stone beach is unlike anything else in the state, and you’ll definitely want to pay it a visit. Read on below to learn more:
Iona’s Beach is a beautiful natural attraction near the small town of Two Harbors, Minnesota, along the North Shore of Lake Superior. It's about 45 miles north of Duluth on Highway 61.
At first, Iona’s Beach may seem like a typical Lake Superior beach. It’s rocky and rugged, with no sand in sight. But this beach is more unique than most.
For one thing, Iona’s Beach is not made up of your typical rocks. The ones here are small, smooth, and pink.
The pink rocks come from a rhyolite cliff, which they slowly crumbled off of over many years. The stones have been eroded and smoothed by the constant churning of the waves, which continue to shape them.
It’s not only the stones’ color that makes this beach interesting. It’s also the sound they make. Each time a wave washes ashore, the rocks at Iona’s Beach shift, creating a high tinkling noise.
For this reason, Iona’s Beach is often called Minnesota’s Singing Beach. The sound of the rocks is truly unlike anything else you can find in Minnesota. This pink stone beach is well worth a visit.
Have you ever been to Iona’s Beach? What did you think? Let us know in the comments! And if you’re interested in another totally unique North Shore beach, check out our past article about Black Beach, a black sand beach on Lake Superior!
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