North America has five Great Lakes; these are freshwater lakes interconnected to each other and the Atlantic Ocean.One of them is Lake Michigan, and it is the second-largest by volume. Other Great Lakes are Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Superior, and Lake Ontario.Lake Michigan is a glacial lake. Its name is derived from a word in the Ojibwe language, ‘mishigami,’ which means great water. Lake Michigan is surrounded by Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. It is the only lake among the Great Lakes, surrounded only by cities of the United States. The other Great Lakes have their borders with Canada. It is known for being one of the world’s largest freshwater lakes with the largest freshwater sand dune.More than 100 streams flow into Lake Michigan, including Grand, Muskegon, White, Fox, Manistee, Kalamazoo, Menominee, and various others. The largest island situated at the north of the river is the Beaver Islands. It is significant for international trade. Lake Michigan freezes from December to April. It is also used for fishing for commercial purposes. Fishes found here are lake trout, Coho salmon, yellow perch, bowfin, largemouth bass, lake whitefish, lake sturgeon, Atlantic salmon, and many other species. Lake Michigan also has great significance in the economy. The water from the lake is used for fishing, industrial purposes, agriculture, and drinking purposes. It is also the world’s fifth-largest lake.After reading some interesting facts about Lake Michigan, also check out these facts about Lake Ontario and Lake Superior facts.Fun Facts About Lake MichiganThere are five Great Lakes in the United States. They include Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Superior, and Lake Ontario. These lakes perform an extremely important role in the economy as well as the livelihood of a large number of people in the respective states. All the Great Lakes lie in North America, between Canada and the United States of America. Some of the fun facts about Lake Michigan are given below.Lake Michigan was discovered in 1634 by Jean Nicolet, a French explorer. During the last Ice Age, Michigan Lake was formed from the advancing glaciers.Lake Michigan is known as the ‘Third Coast’ because various beaches are situated here, and it has the world’s largest freshwater sand dunes. It is the sole Great Lake having all of its borders surrounded by the cities of the United States. The Lake Michigan shoreline is about 1,650 mi (2655.4 km) long, and its surface area is about 22405.5 sq. mi. (58,030 sq. km.). Lake Michigan is believed to have its own Bermuda triangle. It is also known as the ‘Michigan Triangle.‘Lake Michigan is the second largest lake among the Great Lakes in terms of volume, and it is the third-largest lake out of the Great Lakes in terms of surface area. Lake Michigan is also the world’s sixth-largest freshwater lake, and plenty of drinking water also comes from this lake. Lake Michigan’s volume is about 1175.6 cu. mi. (4,900 cu. km.) and it flows into the Mississippi River basin after diverting.There are various Lake Michigan beaches. Some of them are Muskegon, South Haven, Douglas, St. Joseph, Grand Haven, Silver Lakes Sand Dunes, and many others.What are some scary facts about Lake Michigan?Over the years, various people have told some scary stories about Lake Michigan. Some of them have been verified by officials and authorities. From being called the deadliest Great Lake to having the second Bermuda Triangle, Lake Michigan can be extremely dangerous. It is not even safe to swim in this lake. Some of the scary facts about Lake Michigan are mentioned down below.Lake Michigan is considered one of the most dangerous lakes among the Great Lakes. This is due to the rip currents, which cause the destruction of various structures. Many people have drowned while swimming in Lake Michigan. In 1955, a bull shark bit a swimmer, George Lawson, in Lake Michigan. Sometimes violent tornadoes develop in Lake Michigan, and Lake Michigan is home to vegetarian piranhas.Lake Michigan possesses an area like the Bermuda triangle. It is also called the Michigan triangle. Many people and ships have disappeared in this region. Lake Michigan had the first big disaster among the Great Lakes when a steamer collided with a schooner, and 450 people died. In 1956, at the bottom of Lake Michigan, a life-size statue of crucified Jesus was found, and a perfectly aligned circle made up of stones that are thought to be over 10 thousand years old was discovered at the bottom of Lake Michigan in 2007.What are some facts about Lake Michigan’s location?Lake Michigan is a popular lake in the United States. Some of the facts about its location are mentioned down below.Lake Michigan is located in North America and is the only lake among the Great Lakes which shares all its borders with the cities of the United States. Michigan surrounds it on the east and north, Wisconsin on the West, Illinois on the southwest, and Indiana on the Southeast.Lake Michigan and Lake Huron connect with each other on the north of the Straits of Mackinac. A few national parks are located near the Lake Michigan shore. Some of them are Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (eastern shore) and Isle Royale National Park. A few inland lakes or streams flow into Lake Michigan, including Manistee, White, Fox, Muskegon, Grand, St. Joseph, and various others.Lake Michigan shores mainly consist of sandy beaches, which are popular among tourists and locals. It also has various sand dunes which are located on its eastern shore. The western shore of Lake Michigan has multiple sandy beaches and is a tourist attraction.Some of the important lake ports of Lake Michigan are Michigan City, Waukegan, Grand Haven, Manistee, Manitowoc, Lake Erie port, Racine, Kenosha, and many others. These ports have an extremely essential role to play in terms of commercial importance as they have emerged as growing centers of economic development.What are the facts about Lake Michigan’s wildlife diversity?Lake Michigan is a freshwater lake and has high levels of oxygen. These conditions support marine life. Lake Michigan’s ecosystem is very diverse and consists of various types of fish. These fishes are also obtained for commercial purposes. Some of the facts about Lake Michigan wildlife diversity are as follows.Lake Michigan does not have a lot of algae production, which keeps the lake clean.Lake Michigan’s various fish species include Atlantic salmon, pink salmon, steelhead trout, brook trout, brown trout, bass largemouth, walleye, whitefish, and smallmouth bass. Catfish, suckers, Chinook salmon, coho salmon, bullheads, crappie, smelt, Menominee, muskellunge, and northern pike are also found in these waters. Many people also enjoy fishing for rainbow trout, lake sturgeon, lake trout, sunfish, white bass, common carp, and yellow perch in Lake Michigan.Sea Lampreys arrived in Lake Michigan in the 20th century. They attacked the native predator fishes of the lake. They were even called ’the vampire of Lake Michigan’ because they sucked the blood of other fishes in the lake. During the 50s, 80% of the total fish population consisted of Alewives. Later, Coho Salmon and Chinook Salmons were introduced in the ecosystem of Lake Michigan to take over.Sometimes alligators are also found in Lake Michigan, and some vegetarian piranhas that have teeth like humans were introduced illegally in Lake Michigan. Various birds are also native to Lake Michigan, including blue herons, herring gulls, whooping cranes, eagles, snowy owls, wood ducks, and plovers. The biggest creature living in Lake Michigan is Lake Sturgeon.Lake Michigan watershed is plush with dense forests and is very sparsely populated. The region’s economy is dependent on the tourism industry and natural resources. In comparison, the south is heavily populated and much more developed in terms of commercial activities.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created many interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 101 Lake Michigan facts to know before you visit there, then why not take a look at five great lakes or Lake Erie, Canada?
North America has five Great Lakes; these are freshwater lakes interconnected to each other and the Atlantic Ocean.
