Lake Michigan is shared, from west to east, by the U.S. states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. This is likely to lead to decreasing native habitat and to adversely affect native species survival, including game fish. The lakes maximum depth is 925 feet (282 meters), and it is the fifth largest lake in the world by surface area. The lake is also home to crawfish, freshwater sponges and sea lamprey, a metallic violet species of eel. [47] The lake is a great place to view ice volcanoes,[48] which typically occur at the start of the winter season. The southern and eastern beaches are typically sandy and dune-covered. Frankfort Lighthouse on Lake Michigan in Frankfort, Michigan. Splash Into These 14 Inland Lakes in Michigan | Michigan Lake Michigan is a giant freshwater lake located in the Midwestern United States. [44] The iron ore and much of the stone and coal are used in the steel industry. Sylvia Hill is a renowned explorer of some of the world's most famous lakes. Unfortunately, many of the planes never made it back to shore. Lake Michigan has an average depth of 85m and reaches a maximum depth of 281m. The water temperature in Mason Lake is nearly constant at 39 degrees, though there are small variations during the year. The Lake Express, established in 2004, carries passengers and vehicles across the lake between Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Muskegon, Michigan. What is the largest freshwater lake in the world? The lake's average water depth is 279 feet (85 meters) and its maximum depth is 925 feet (282 meters). The average depth of the lake is 195 feet, with a maximum depth of around 750 feet. Where there are no beaches or marinas, stone or concrete revetments protect the shoreline from erosion. NY 10036. They attach to valuable fish and feed on their victims blood and body fluids. Fisheries in inland waters of the United States are small compared to marine fisheries. It is a great place to visit and enjoy the beauty of nature. Lake Michigan touches Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third-largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron (and is slightly smaller than the U.S. state of West Virginia). Lake Michigan Is The Most Dangerous Lake In The Country, And Here's Why By Lianna Tedesco Updated Jun 18, 2023 With plenty of statistics to back it up, Lake Michigan is undoubtedly the most dangerous in the country. The other four Great Lakes are shared by the U.S. and Canada. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "af3bf8eb4a9ab23f71ecb76df852ee0a" );document.getElementById("a67ad6e162").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); 2023 World lakes - Explore the Wonders of the World's Lakes. Science news this week: Asias tallest tree and mysterious brain spirals, Get started with astronomy with this fantastic telescope bundle deal. Lake Superior | Islands, Depth, Size, Map, & Facts | Britannica This program was so successful that the introduced population of trout and salmon exploded, resulting in the creation of a large sport fishery for these introduced species. (800) 250-9283. At 22,300 square miles, Lake Michigan is the largest lake entirely within one country by surface area. Muskegon, Michigan. It is approximately 307 miles long and 118 miles wide, with a maximum depth of 925 feet and an average depth of 279 feet. 1. The tourism industry around Lake Michigan is also well developed and the habitats of the lake serve as popular tourist destinations attracting lots of tourists. If they were considered a single lake, its surface area would cover 45,000 square miles and would replace Lake . As a result, the salt levels are rising and the water is becoming more polluted. Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Lake Michigan | Great Lakes Guide Unless youre someone with a deep (pun intended) fascination with the worlds bodies of water, it might be a challenge to fathom just how far down they can go. The lake is 321 miles (517 km) long (north to south); it has a maximum width of 118 miles (190 km) and a drainage basin of about 45,500 square miles (118,000 square km), exclusive of its surface area, which is 22,300 square miles (57,757 square km). Sylvia Hill is a renowned explorer of some of the world's most famous lakes. If you find yourself caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current. Annual variations occur with the changing seasons. The water temperature in a lake is a nearly constant 39 degrees, though there are small variations during the year. Encompassing an area of 58,030 sq. Approximately 118 miles wide and 307 miles long, Lake Michigan has more than 1,600 miles of shoreline. In the early 17th century, when western European explorers made their first forays into the region, they encountered descendants of the Late Woodland Native Americans: the historic Chippewa; Menominee; Sauk; Fox; Winnebago; Miami; Ottawa; and Potawatomi peoples. She is passionate about preserving and protecting these natural habitats, and her mission is to share her knowledge with others with hopes of saving the nature. The 20 Largest Lakes in the World (By Continent) Approximately 118 miles wide and 307 miles long, Lake Michigan has more than 1,600 miles of shoreline. Photo by Adam Bouse on Unsplash The shores of Lake Michigan, USA, one of the Great Lakes Read update They are often the base of the food web, providing food for other organisms. The South Chippewa Basin is the deepest part of Lake Michigan, reaching depths of over 275m. Orcas have sunk 3 boats in Europe and appear to be teaching others to do the same. What is the narrowest point of Lake Michigan? The lake Superior is 350 miles (563 km) long (east to west), and its greatest width is 160 miles (258 km) from north to south. It was named "Huron" after the local Huron people by early French Explorers. The word Michigan originally referred to the lake itself, and is believed to come from the Ojibwa word mishigami meaning great water. Small dune formations can be found on the western shore of Lake Michigan at Illinois Beach State Park, and moderate-sized dune formations can be found in Kohler-Andrae State Park and Point Beach State Forest in Wisconsin. This find provides new insight into the ancient cultures that once inhabited the area and their belief systems. Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake that is situated entirely within the boundaries of the United States and is surrounded by the US States of Michigan in the north and east; Illinois in the southwest; Indiana in the southeast and by Wisconsin in the west. It is shared, from west to east, by the U.S. states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Lake Michigan beach at Holland State Park in Park Township, Michigan, Chicago's North Avenue Beach, Lincoln Park, "Michigan Lake" redirects here. Prevailing westerly winds tend to move the surface water toward the east, producing a moderating effect on the climate of western Michigan. The primary outflows include the Chicago River, the Calumet River, and the Straits of Mackinac. Geologists believe that Lake Michigan was formed about 1.2 billion years ago due to the splitting of two tectonic plates that resulted in the generation of a Mid-Continent Rift. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third-largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron. [31], In January 2013, Lake Michigan's monthly mean water levels dipped to an all-time low of 576.2ft (175.6m),[32] reaching their lowest ebb since record keeping began in 1918. It is also the deepest and coldest of the Great Lakes. What is the maximum number of biological parents an organism can have? lake michigan is the third largest great lake by surface area and the sixth largest freshwater lake in the world. The lake is 206 miles (331 km) long from northwest to southeast, and its maximum width is 183 miles (295 km). The beaches of the western shore and the northern east shore are covered by sands and rocks. [36], Lake Michigan has many beaches. Lake Michigan's water surface is 22,300 square miles (57,800 square kilometers). It is the only one of the Great Lakes entirely within the boundaries of the United States. Lake Huron is the second-largest Great Lake by area and the third-largest by volume, and boasts the longest shoreline of the list. The lakes water comes directly from snow or rain and there are no inlets from other water sources. The solution to Chicagos water supply problem was to intake water further offshore through a system of cribs that connected to the water supply via tunnels under the lake. The mastodon carving is particularly impressive, and its interesting to see how the stones are arranged in a Stonehenge-like manner. However, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the average size of Lake Michigan is 22,300 square miles. The southern tip of the lake near Gary, Indiana, is heavily industrialized. Lake Huron and Lake Michigan are counted as a single mutant version of the two great lakes referred to as Lake Michigan-Huron. [25], Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake that is wholly within the borders of the United States; the others are shared with Canada. Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates its maximum depth at about 925 feet you can think . The solution to providing clean water to the city of Chicago was to intake water further offshore through a system of cribs that connected to the water supply via tunnels under Lake Michigan. Parts of the shoreline are within the Hiawatha National Forest and the Manistee National Forest. There are no inlets from other water sources, making it one of the most pristine lakes in the world. It has a shoreline of 3,827 miles (6,158 kilometers) and a surface area of 22,394 square miles (58,030 square kilometers). [9], Lake Michigan is the only one of the five Great Lakes located fully in the United States; the other four are shared between the United States and Canada. 10% of the worlds total freshwater is in the Superior. His accomplishment is a testament to his strength and determination, and serves as an inspiration to others. Further study of this site could provide valuable information about the people who lived in this area long ago. The easternmost Great Lake, Lake Ontario is the second smallest of the five by volume (about 390 cubic miles of water) but as the downstream lake, its most affected by human activities taking place in Lakes Ontario, Huron, Erie and Michigan, per the EPA. Its water comes only from rain or snow, making it a very clean and pure lake. Located on the southern side of the straits is the town of Mackinaw City, Michigan, the site of Fort Michilimackinac, a reconstructed French fort founded in 1715, and on the northern side is St. Ignace, Michigan, site of a French Catholic mission to the Indians, founded in 1671. This formation lies 40 feet (12m) below the surface of the lake. Approximately 118 miles wide and 307 miles long, Lake Michigan has more than 1,600 miles of shoreline. A 5-mile-wide, 120 feet deep trait of Mackinac connects the two lakes. It is also one of the five Great Lakes in North America. It is also the coldest and deepest of the Great Lakes, with a maximum depth of 406 meters (1,332 feet). The waters of Lake Michigan support a variety of fish species and other invertebrate fauna. The Chicago Tribune reported that BP is a major polluter, dumping thousands of pounds of raw sludge into the lake every day from its Whiting, Indiana, oil refinery. Environmental problems can still plague the lake. Lake Michigan is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third-largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron. [33] Keith Kompoltowicz, chief of watershed hydrology for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' district office in Detroit, explained that biggest factors leading to the lower water levels in 2013 were a combination of the "lack of a large snowpack" in the winter of 2011/2012 coupled with very hot and dry conditions in the summer of 2012. It is an important part of the worlds ecosystem and is a popular destination for recreation and tourism. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third-largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron. Lake Michigan features several inland beaches and has often been referred to as the Third Coast of the US after the Atlantic and the Pacific coasts. Crater Lake is a beautiful blue lake located in America. The blue in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron is sediment brought to the surface when strong winds churned the lakes. Several ferries currently operate on the Great Lakes to carry passengers to various islands, including Beaver Island and Bois Blanc Island (Michigan). [6][27], It is the larger half of Lake MichiganHuron, which is the largest body of fresh water in the world by surface area. Conservation efforts are necessary to protect these species and help them recover. The five lakes that span across Canada and United States are Lake Superior, Lake Ontario, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Michigan. [23], The Milwaukee Reef, running under Lake Michigan from a point between Milwaukee and Racine to a point between Grand Haven and Muskegon, divides the lake into northern and southern basins. Lake Michigan is the only one of the Great Lakes that is entirely within the United States; the others form a water boundary between the United States and Canada. Muskegon, MI. Best VR mindfulness games 2023: Meditation, puzzles, & creativity, Best star projectors 2023: Bring the cosmos indoors. The principal inlets are the Fox River of Wisconsin, the Kalamazoo River of Michigan. The lake is named after the Native American tribe of the same name that once inhabited the area. The word Michigan originally referred to the lake itself, and is believed to come from the Ojibwa word mishigami meaning great water. In the late 1960s, successful stocking programs for Pacific salmon led to the development of Lake Michigan's charter fishing industry. Michigan - Wikipedia How Big is Lake Michigan: 5 Amazing Lake Michigan Facts Peloton vs Echelon: Can this more affordable brand challenge Pelotons claim to the title of best exercise bike? Located in southwestern Michigan in the Lake Michigan Shore AVA (American Viticulture Area), the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail is a collaboration of 15 wineries each with their own charm, intimate tasting rooms and quality wines. The first tunnel was completed in 1867, connecting to an intake crib two miles offshore to the pumping station at Chicago and Michigan Avenues. The other four Great Lakes are shared by the U.S. and Canada. The program was designed to teach pilots how to fly in all kinds of conditions, and the planes were equipped with everything the pilots would need to survive if they went down. Lake Michigan, like the other Great Lakes, supplies drinking water to millions of people in bordering areas. [6][27] It contains a volume of 1,183 cubic miles (4,932km) of water. Great Lakes - Lake Michigan | Michigan At its widest point, Lake Michigan is about 94 miles wide. Cities on the shores of Lake Michigan include: The National Park Service maintains the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Indiana Dunes National Park. Lake Michigan is approximately 94 miles wide at its narrowest point. The Great Lakes of North America cover a combined area of 244,106 sq. How Wide Is Lake Erie? - AZ Animals Some fishes like brown trout, chinook salmon, coho, and rainbow trout were introduced in the lakes waters to reduce the number of invasive species. Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Lake Michigan is bordered by the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. It is the deepest (922 feet or 281 meters) of the Great Lakes. With an average depth of 279 feet, Lake Michigan is the deepest of the Great Lakes. The main inflow to Lake Michigan from Lake Superior, through Lake Huron, is controlled by the locks operated by the bi-national Lake Superior Board of Control. At approximately 118 miles wide, Lake Michigan is the fifth largest lake in the world by surface area and the second largest of the Great Lakes by surface area, after only Lake Superior. Global Land One-kilometer Base Elevation (GLOBE) v.1. As for its depth, Lake Huron is 750 feet deep say, about 750 Subway sandwiches below sea level. Its depth is a little less than the height of Chicago's Willis Tower, by about a hundred feet or so. The narrowest point of Lake Michigan is approximately 10 miles wide. It is also the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third-largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron. Each basin has a clockwise flow of water, deriving from rivers, winds, and the Coriolis effect. The lake covers an area of 23,007 square miles, of which 13,904 square miles lie in Ontario while 9,103 square miles lie in Michigan. About Lake Erie The stunning and huge Lake Erie is one of the Great Lakes. It is bordered by the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. As a result, salmonids, including various strains of brown trout, steelhead (rainbow trout), coho and chinook salmon, were introduced as predators in order to decrease the wildlife population. Lake Michigan Basin Statistics Lake Huron Lake Huron is the second largest of the Great Lakes and ranks as the fourth largest lake in the world (by surface area). Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. Tourism and recreation are major industries on all of the Great Lakes. The economy of many communities in northern Michigan and Door County, Wisconsin, is supported by tourism, with large seasonal populations attracted by Lake Michigan. RIP currents are dangerous because they can quickly pull swimmers out into deeper water. During this twelve-month period, water levels ranged from 1.38to 0.71 feet (4222cm) below Chart Datum. The Alger Underwater Preserve is a great place to explore them. Many other water sports are practiced on the lakes, such as yachting, sea kayaking, diving, kitesurfing and lake surfing. It spans the entire west coast of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, and it is the only one of the five Great Lakes that is located entirely within the United States. The width of Lake Michigan at its widest point is about 58 miles. Steel mills and refineries operate near the Indiana shoreline. Lake Michigan is home to a small variety of fish species and other organisms. By most measures, it is the healthiest of all the Great Lakes. Great Lakes Lake Superior, most northwesterly and largest of the five Great Lakes of North America and one of the world's largest bodies of fresh water. [12], Some of the most studied early human inhabitants of the Lake Michigan region were the Hopewell Native Americans. The surface area of Lake Michigan is 58,016 square miles, which is slightly larger than the state of Pennsylvania. Lake Michigan is one of the largest lakes in the world. The average depth of Lake Michigan. If you are planning to drink water from a natural source, it is important to purify it first to remove any bacteria, viruses, or parasites that could cause waterborne diseases. Lake Michigan is the third largest of the Great Lakes (when measured by water surface) and the only Great Lake located entirely in the United States. The huge lake is almost completely surrounded by lush forest and is teeming with wildlife. Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. In 1679, Nicolette explored the southernmost part of the lake where modern-day Chicago is. Is it possible to swim across Lake Michigan? km. Lake Huron is one of the Great Lakes and is the second largest lake in North America. Find out all the facts, check out fishing information, beaches, map, and more. Visit our corporate site. Before the invention of radar in the 1940s, the Straits of Mackinac could be an extremely dangerous area to navigate. It is also a popular destination for recreational activities such as fishing, camping, hiking, and boating. Lake Michigan is the third largest lake in the world by surface area. Mystery orcas with bulbous heads wash up dead in unexplained mass stranding, World's largest captive croc turns 120, giving scientists 'serious knowledge on longevity', Earth's thermosphere reaches highest temperature in 20 years after being bombarded by solar storms, Orca rams boat off Scottish coast, 2,000 miles away from original attacks, The ultimate action-packed science and technology magazine bursting with exciting information about the universe, Subscribe today and save an extra 5% with checkout code 'LOVE5', Engaging articles, amazing illustrations & exclusive interviews, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. Grand Traverse Bay ( / trvrz / TRAV-rz) is a deep bay of Lake Michigan formed by the Leelanau Peninsula in the northwestern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. These fish are the largest fish in the Great Lakes region and can grow to be over six feet long! Ships were at the mercy of unpredictable storms, dangerous currents, fog, ice, shallow areas and rocky shoals. Sylvia Hill is a renowned explorer of some of the world's most famous lakes. How wide is lake michigan at its narrowest point? - World lakes [35] In March 2014 BP's Whiting refinery was responsible for spilling more than 1,600 US gallons (6,100L) of oil into the lake. The lake sturgeon is a freshwater fish that can be found in the Great Lakes. They are the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world. Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. Live Science is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. White Lake (Michigan) - Wikipedia Additionally, it has water boundaries with Minnesota, Ontario (Canada), and two of the Great Lakes - Lake Erie and Lake Huron. Lake Michigan is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume. Some of the most expansive and unique dune formations can be found at Indiana Dunes National Park, Saugatuck Dunes State Park, Warren Dunes State Park, Hoffmaster State Park, Silver Lake State Park, Ludington State Park, and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. If not controlled, they could have a devastating effect on the Great Lakes fisheries. Several European fur trade posts like Fort Michilimackinac and Fort Mackinac were eventually established along the shores and islands of Lake Michigan. tel: 734-971-9135, Michigan Web Development by Boxcar Studio. The word Michigan originally referred to the lake itself, and is believed to come from the Ojibwe word mishigami meaning great water. Despite their vast size, large sections of the Great Lakes freeze in winter, interrupting most shipping. Lake Michigan's name is derived from the Ojibwa word Michi Gami, meaning "large lake.". It is the third largest by volume, holding 1,180 cubic miles of water. It extends southwestward for 118 miles (190 km) from the head of Big Bay de Noc (Michigan) to the mouth of the Fox River (Wisconsin) and is 23 miles (37 km) at its widest point, opposite Rock Island Passage (the main entrance to the bay), located between Rock and St. Martin islands. The Great Lakes are collectively administered by the Conference of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers, intergovernmental organization led by the governing chief executives of the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Qubec, and by the governors of the U.S. states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.