Amethyst and Thunder Bay

Amethyst is commonly found in Thunder Bay and the region hosts the largest Amethyst mines in North America. Throughout the ages, the purple-coloured quartz stone called "Amethyst" has been renowned for its protective powers. The valued purple colour of this stone results from inclusions of iron into the quartz crystal's matrix. The higher the iron content, the more vivid the purple colouring. Shades can vary from the palest of lilacs to violet to dark red.

Amethyst Harbour is located on Lake Superior, 60 kilometers east of Thunder Bay. It boasts a large government dock, as it is a shelter harbour for large ships in foul weather. Named for the gem that was prevalent here, it is now an area in high demand for cottage-dwellers. This is where my family owns a cottage (or as we refer to them up north, a camp).