Across the St. Marys River from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. A mission was first built on the site in 1669, and the French established a military post in 1750. The British took it over in 1762 and it served as an important fur-trading post until 1842. The Sault locks provided the final link to an all-Canadian passageway between the
Saint Lawrence River and
Lake Superior. The locks are now operated as a national historic site. The city offers a variety of recreational activities and special events. Visitors can enjoy bicycling, boating, hiking, and fishing in the summer, and skiing, snowmobiling, skating, and snowshoeing in the winter. Bellevue Park has a sailboat marina, and greenhouses, and holds concerts in the summer. The Bon Soo Winter Carnival is held in late January/early February. The 10-day affair includes curling, skating, skiing, snow volleyball, sleigh rides, a polar bear swim, snow sculptures, and fireworks.