The Wonderful Lakes of Michigan

With 11,000 lakes and 64,980 inland lakes and ponds, the state of Michigan has the longest freshwater coastline in the world. In every part of the state, there is a natural body of water not far from it. Big or small, deep or shallow, if you’re in the mood for some freshwater adventure, Michigan has it in spades.

All their lakes and other bodies of water are unique in their own way. Some are larger, some have a more active ecosystem, and some are perfect for hanging out in the sun. Let’s look at some of the great and wonderful lakes of Michigan.

 

What is the Largest Inland Lake in Michigan?

Measuring 7.5 square miles, the Houghton Lake is the largest inland lake in Michigan. It’s found in Roscommon County, Michigan. It measures 7 and a half miles from north to south and 4 and a half miles across its widest point. To give a better idea, Houghton Lake is as large as 241 Olympic swimming pools combined.

Houghton Lake was named after the state’s first geologist, Douglass Houghton. The lake gets its waters from Cut River that connects it to Higgins Lake. Houghton Lake’s waters flow to Muskegon River in return. The lake is rich with underwater life, offering nearly every specie of game that can be found in Michigan. Fishing enthusiasts will have fun catching yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike, and many other fish in the lake.

Locals and tourists enjoy their time on the Houghton Lake by fishing, kayaking, jet skiing and much more recreational water activity. Annual events in Michigan are held along the lake’s shores, including the Tip-Up-Town USA, a large winter sports festival. Tip-Up-Town is held for two weekends during January. Weddings and other private events are also held along the beautiful shorelines of Houghton Lake.

With its beauty, innumerable underwater life, and countless activities to be enjoyed on its shores and in the water, Houghton Lake is a wonderful place to spend with family and friends!

 

What is the Deepest Lake in Michigan?

The deepest part of a swimming pool is, more often than not, 7 feet. That’s deep enough to make some of us paddle desperately to keep our heads up in the water. Now, imagine a lake that’s nearly 200 times deeper than a regular swimming pool and you’ll get Lake Superior.

At its deepest point, Lake Superior is 1,332 feet deep. Due to its depth, it’s rare for the lake to completely be frozen. It’s located on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and is shared by Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Canadian province of Ontario. Not only is it the deepest lake in Michigan, it is also considered as the largest freshwater lake in the world when it comes to the surface area. It stretches up to 31,700 square miles and has a water volume of 2,900 cubic miles. This makes it the third largest freshwater lake by volume in the world. It certainly deserves its name.

During the Colonial period, Lake Superior was a major route for many trading activities. Even today, it’s still the main shipping hub. Its ecosystem consists of roughly 80 species of fish including trout and salmon. Even aquatic plants are flourishing within and along its shoreline.

The lakes picturesque shoreline makes it a popular destination for tourists and locals. Vacationers can enjoy the day in the sun in the lake’s ocean-like beaches. With its pristine waters, Lake Superior is truly a sight of wonder.

 

Where is Bear Lake Michigan?

Located in Manistee County, Bear Lake is only 24 feet deep and 2.75 square miles. Bear Lake is also the name of the village located in the southern area of the lake.

Numerous species of fish can be found in the depths of this lake. Anglers will have a good time catching yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike, and others. Locals and tourists can enjoy golfing, bike rides, and numerous shops on the shores of the lake.

While Bear Lake is small compared to other popular lakes in Michigan, the natural life and activities along its water and shores make it a must-see.

 

Where is Crystal Lake in Michigan?

Crystal Lake is located in Benzie County, Michigan. It’s around 40 square kilometers and it’s 165 feet deep at its deepest point.

Crystal Lake is located near Lake Michigan. In 1873, a channel was opened to connect Crystal Lake with Lake Michigan. At the time, Crystal Lake was higher than Lake Michigan. When the channel opened, Crystal Lake’s level dropped for roughly 20 feet. This drop gave way for sandy beaches along its shores.

Resorts and beaches along Crystal Lakes make it a popular destination. Not to mention its pristine clear waters set it apart from many others. Sailing and fishing is also a popular activity over its waters. In fact, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources claims that Crystal Lake offers the best fishing experiences for anglers in the state.

 

Where is Lake Orion Michigan?

Lake Orion is found in the Orion Township in Oakland County, Michigan. It’s 506 acres in surface area and 80 feet deep at its deepest point. Its area was formed by smaller lakes combined over time.

Several islands can be found in Lake Orion. These islands are for popular waterfront residences. Anglers can enjoy fishing largemouth bass, crappie, northern pike, rainbow trout, and other fish. Along with its shore, beaches and recreational areas are enjoyed by both locals and tourists.

 

Where is Fife Lake Michigan?

With two islands inside the lake, Fife Lake spans 617 acres. It’s located in Grand Traverse County in Michigan. At its deepest point, it’s around 55 feet deep.

It boasts many fish species for anglers, such as northern pike, rock bass, walleye, yellow perch, and more. Vacationers will also love swimming in its beaches and boating. The lake’s shores are also popular for picnics and camping.

And if you’re planning to go on the water during the colder season, make sure to bring along a warm sweatshirt that also shows off your love of Michigan.

 

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Lake Michigan and its Relationship with Ice

Bodies of water are always a spot for recreation. Whether it be swimming, boating, fishing, or studying the creatures that live in it because studying can be fun too. They are most popular during summer when the temperatures rise and everyone wants to find a way to cool off or find that one relaxing spot where they can quietly spend the warm afternoon doing whatever it is they want. In Lake Michigan, swimmers, divers, and anglers come plenty.

What about when the temperatures drop? Only the bravest souls dare swim or dive in the icy waters. Very select fish are active during winter, and if you forgot to dry dock your boat, it could get stuck on the ice. What happens to Lake Michigan during the winter months?

 

What is the Current Temperature of Lake Michigan?

In order to find a baseline to compare how warm or how cold it can get, we need to understand the lake’s average temperature. Of course, it varies during the day and night, and the water’s surface temperature is significantly warmer than the deeper parts.

 

As of this year, meteorologists forecast that the lakes would (obviously) have warmer temperatures during the warmer season. Lake temperatures during summer and spring were measured at 30 to 32 degrees Celsius or 86 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, especially around the shores. During the night, it dropped down to 21 to 23 degrees Celsius or 62 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

Presently, as the temperatures drop down in preparation for the colder seasons, Lake Michigan has an average temperature of 19 to 23 degrees Celsius or 65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

According to the weather analysis of last year, the lake was 3 degrees cooler than this year, on both scales. They suspect that it would get progressively warmer next year, with the cold season dropping the temperatures as much as it raised.

According to temperature forecasts for this year’s winter, the lake surface could have temperatures constantly below freezing, or just slightly above freezing. Without El Nino around, we’re going to expect cooler days.

 

Does Lake Michigan Freeze Over Winter?

Yes, definitely. The ice forms where the water is most shallow, so on normal winter seasons, the entire shoreline is frozen over, with the ice going as thick as six inches. This is, however, an average as actual ice thickness can wildly vary. In general, the thickest ice is always the shoreline and it thins the closer you are to the middle.

When you plan to traverse the icy surface of the lake, always remember these tips, which can save your life.

• Don’t judge by its looks. Transparent blue ice is often thicker ice. Opaque ice is often weaker than it looks, regardless of how thick it is.
• Don’t use ice thickness as a judge of strength. Four inches of clear bluish ice can be stronger than a foot of milky white ice.
• Even if you’re just around the shoreline, always carry ice picks or ice claws.
• Even if you know the place, it’s best to ask a local shop or nearby authorities where the ice is thickest or thinnest.
• Always assume that snow-covered ice is weak. Despite the temperatures, snow can act as an insulator, which means the water below it is warmer, making thinner ice.
• A warm winter day won’t melt the ice easily. Altering warm and cold days causes porous and weak ice.
• When you are in a group, never walk in a line. Scatter your weight along the ice.
• Always make sure a responsible adult is aware that you’re going to the ice, even if you’re a responsible adult yourself.
• Wear a life jacket or a snowmobile jacket with bright colors, so you’ll be easy to spot and if you fall, you’ll easily float.
• If ever you fall, don’t shed your clothes. Heavy and baggy clothes will actually trap air and help you float, and will keep you warm for a few precious minutes.
• If you fall, go to the ice in the same direction you came from. It’s likely stronger ice and can support you when you try to climb back up.
• Once you get yourself up, roll away from the weak ice. Distribute your weight
• If you do fall and manage to get back up. Call for help immediately and go to the shore as best you can. Hypothermia and frostbite can happen in minutes.
• When you get help, drink something warm and avoid alcoholic or caffeinated drinks.
• Above all else, call 911 or at least get medical attention. A minute in near-freezing water is enough to cause damage to your skin, muscles and internal organs.

 

Has Lake Michigan Ever Frozen Over?

The lake itself has a strange habit of freezing wider during warmer winters and doing the opposite in colder times. There’s a certain dynamic around the great lakes that makes ice formation so unpredictable, some of them lasting well during summer. But has the lake ever frozen over completely?

Almost. During the early 1990’s, there were records stating that nearly 95% of the lake was frozen. It was not a particularly cold winter season, but it preceded a warmer spring. Only a visible span in the middle of the lake was reportedly not frozen.

On average though, nearly 45% of the lake is frozen during winter. Mostly around the shores, with a few small islands inside the lake responsible for producing ice in the middle.

 

What is the Area of Lake Michigan?

To get an idea how much ice covers Lake Michigan every winter you need to find out how big the lake actually is. Lengthwise, north to south, it spans just around 494 kilometers. Its width is around 146 kilometers from east to west. This means the total surface area of the lake is approximately 58,000 square kilometers. That’s around 20,000 to 24,000 square kilometers of ice during a normal winter.

Despite how the lake freezes over during winter, Lake Michigan’s patrons never waver. There’s always something to enjoy and something to experience.

 

And if you’re planning on spending some time on the lake when it’s frigid out, make sure to bring along a warm hoodie to keep comfortable out there.

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http://blog.livnfresh.com/the-relationship-between-lake-michigan-and-ice/

A Look at the States Bordering Lake Michigan

The Great Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. The Great Lakes of North America also includes Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, and Lake Superior. Lake Michigan is the only one of the five Great Lakes that is located entirely in the United States. The other lakes are shared between the United States and Canada. Its name -and everything else that shares the name of “Michigan”- is from the Ojibwa Native American word “mishigami” which means large lake.

And Lake Michigan certainly lives up to its name. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume, with Lake Superior being the largest. Its water volume is an astounding 1,180 cubic miles. When measured by surface area, it is 22,404 square miles. This makes it the third largest among the five Great Lakes. In comparison, the lake is nearly as large as the state of West Virginia.

 

What States Border Lake Michigan?

Lake Michigan is entirely within the United States borders in a part of the country referred to as the American Midwest. Lake Michigan is shared by the 4 states – Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. There are major ports and beaches all around the lake in each of these states.

 

Wisconsin

Lake Michigan is located at the east side of Wisconsin. The cities of Milwaukee and Green Bay have ports on the shore of Lake Michigan. There are popular lakeside beaches in Wisconsin. Some of these beaches are located in Racine, Sheboygan, and Two Rivers. Other cities that reach Lake Michigan in Wisconsin are Algoma, Cudahy, Fox Point, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Mequon, Oconto, Port Washington, Shorewood, South Milwaukee, Sturgeon Bay, and Whitefish Bay.

 

Illinois

Lake Michigan is located at the north-east side of Illinois. The city of Chicago has a port on the shore of Lake Michigan. Chicago also has beaches along the lake’s shoreline. The Illinois Beach State Park in Zion is also located on the lake’s shores. The cities of Evanston, Glencoe, Highland Park, Kenilworth, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, North Chicago, Waukegan, Wilmette, and Winnetka reaches the shores of Lake Michigan as well.

 

Indiana

At the north-west corner of Indiana, you will find Lake Michigan. The city of Gary has a port on the shore of the lake. Indiana Dunes is a popular vacation spot for those who like to relax on the shores of Lake Michigan. Other cities that reach Lake Michigan in Indiana are East Chicago, Hammond, Michigan City, Portage, Porter, and Whiting.

 

Michigan

Lake Michigan can be found on the west side of the state of Michigan. Muskegon has a port on its shores. There are plenty of beach towns along the shores of Lake Michigan found within the state. These beach towns include Silver Lake Sand Dunes-Hart, Muskegon, Grand Haven, Holland, Saugatuck-Douglas, South Haven, and St. Joseph-Benton Harbor. Cities found on the shores of Lake Michigan also include Bridgman, Charlevoix, Douglas, Elberta, Escanaba, Ferrysburg, Frankfort, Gladstone, Glenn, Grand Beach, Harbor Springs, Ludington, Mackinaw City, Manistee, Manistique, Menominee, Michiana, New Buffalo, Norton Shores, Pentwater, Petoskey, Saugatuck, Shoreham, and Traverse City.

After visiting Lake Michigan and falling in love with the cool blue water, check out our Great Lakes Words T-Shirt.

 

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