Iosco County, Michigan

Iosco is Indian for "Water of Light." This certainly describes what it�s all about! From the Lake Huron coastline to the Au Sable River Valley, these pristine waters continue to enchant. Originally inhabited by Chippewa Indians, this area provided ample shelter of timber from towering white pine forests and food from rivers and lakes: Tawas City, East Tawas and Tawas Bay, (the largest harbor on the Great Lakes), were named after Chief O-Ta-Was, known for fishing the waters of Lake Huron. French settlers were the first white men in the area in the 1830�s, setting up trading posts along the banks of the Au Sable ("all sand") River. The great lumber boom of the 1880�s brought civilization to the area. Today, over a third of the county is contained in the Huron National Forest, with Lumberman�s Monument standing as a tribute to that era. In the mid 1900�s, a series of dams were developed on the Au Sable, first for power, later for recreation, creating winding ponds and inlets that invite sightseers and fishermen - but especially canoers! Just a few miles from Lumberman�s Monument stands the Canoe Memorial, honoring those who traversed the Au Sable - as today�s canoers do still in the annual Au Sable River Run, from Grayling to Oscoda. Iosco County is indeed a must-see on Michigan�s tourist itinerary. Come and experience it for yourself!

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