Ontonagon
Ontonagon Harbor has the only parallel jetties with wave absorbers on Lake
Superior. The construction of the east cell was completed in the fall of 1998
and the west in fall of 2002. The wave absorbers are approximately 200 feet
long and 50-75 feet wide each. The two absorbers are offset over 1300 feet,
with the west absorber being nearly at the lakeward tip of the western jetty.
The two were constructed slightly differently. Both absorbers are made of 4-6
ton armor stone, 750-1500 lb underlayer stone and 3-8 inch (approx. 2-40 lbs)
mattress stone. However, the western absorber has a slope of 2H:1V and the
eastern's is 1.75H:1V. The eastern cell transitions from the jetty portion of
the harbor to the revetment, therefore only the lakeward section has armor
stone on the lakeside. Armor stone lines the entire cell on the channel side.
The western cell lies completely within the lakeward jetty. Therefore, both the
lakeside and channel side slopes are covered with armor stone. The predominant
waves, in deep water, come out of the west-northwest. The project depth varies
from 22-23 feet in the navigation channel.
Recent Aerial Photo
Not available
Wave Absorber Cross Section
None available
Wave Rose

Wave Absorber Location Map
This map shows harbors and locations that have additional wave absorber information available. Light blue dots are shallow draft harbors. Dark blue dots are deep draft harbors. Click on the name of a location to get additional wave absorber information for that location.
