Lake Michigan is one of the five great lakes of North America. It is noteworthy that it is one of all its fellows that is entirely located in the United States. In terms of water surface area, it ranks third after lakes Superior and Huron. It ranks 2nd in volume of fresh water, ahead of Huron. Some experts consider Michigan and Huron as a single lake, connected by the Straits of Mackinac. Thanks to him, the water level in reservoirs is the same. If we take this point of view as truth, then the aquatic hybrid takes 1st place in terms of area among all fresh lakes on the planet.
Lake Michigan
The reservoir in question is located at an altitude of 177 meters above sea level. Its area is 58 thousand square meters. km. The maximum depth is 281 meters. The average depth corresponds to 85 meters. The length of the reservoir is 494 km. The width reaches 190 km. The length of the coastline is 2636 km. The volume of fresh water reaches 4918 cubic meters. km. The lake is bordered by 4 states. These are Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. 12 million people live along the coastline. The largest cities on the coast are Chicago and Milwaukee.
Chicago (Illinois) is home to 2.7 million people. With the adjacent suburbs, a huge metropolis with a population of 9.8 million people is formed. This is 3rd in the country after New York and Los Angeles. Milwaukee is further north and belongs to the state of Wisconsin. Its population reaches 595 thousand people. With the suburbs it is equal to 1 million 750 thousand people. In the summer, the population increases, as many vacationers from almost all over America come to the shores of the reservoir.
What Lake Michigan is famous for is beaches. This region is called the "third coast of the United States" after the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The sand on the shore is soft and creaks slightly underfoot. This is due to the high content of quartz in it. The water in the coastal zone is warm even at the end of summer. Sand dunes are observed near the coast. There are especially many of them in Indiana and Michigan.
Lake Michigan on the map
On the northern coast of the lake there are stones made from fossilized corals. Sometimes you come across entire colonies of such stones. Their surface is decorated with unique original patterns, which sharply distinguishes these natural formations from ordinary pebbles.
In general, the coastline of the western and northern parts of the eastern coast is rocky. And the southern and eastern ones are sandy and covered with dunes. This is explained by the predominance of westerly winds. They also contribute to the formation of thick layers of ice during winter on the East Coast.
They walk across the lake ferries. The ferry "Badger" is considered the largest. It operates between Michigan and Wisconsin. It is the last remaining coal vessel operating on the Great Lakes. Since 2004, the Lake Express ferry has been operating on the reservoir. Its service also operates across the lake, linking Milwaukee with Moosekegon. Ferries carry passengers, cars and a wide variety of cargo.
The reservoir is connected to the Atlantic Ocean through a system of straits, lakes and canals. But large ocean-going ships, naturally, do not dock in the port of Chicago. But there are a lot of pleasure boats. They easily navigate the system of canals and locks between the Great Lakes. Shipping disrupted in winter. The lake is covered with ice for three months. During the year, the water level changes by about 20 cm. The highest level occurs in October-November. And the lowest is recorded annually in February.
On Lake Michigan in Chicago
It is considered the largest on the lake island Beaver. It is located in the northern part of the reservoir and is part of the Beaver archipelago. The island is located 50 km from the east coast. You can reach it by boat or by air. Length 21 km and width from 5 to 10 km. The remaining islands of the archipelago are much smaller.
To the south is North Manitou Island, 19 km from the east coast. Its length is 12 km and width 6 km. To the southwest lies South Manitou Island, 26 km from the coast. It's almost square. Its length and width are 5 km. Both of these islands are uninhabited.
Lake Michigan was discovered by French explorer Jean Nicolet(1598-1642). It was located on the reservoir and nearby lands from 1634 to 1638. The adjacent territories were inhabited by Indian tribes from the 1st millennium BC. e. Their main occupation was hunting and fishing. With the advent of Europeans, the reservoir became an important transport artery. River ports and trading communities arose along the banks. Today it is a large industrial area, inextricably linked with the economy of the entire country.
Yuri Syromyatnikov
Lake Michigan is part of the Great Lakes. They received this name because they contained 21% of the world's fresh water supply.
In addition to Michigan, the Great Lakes include Lake Huron, Lake Superior, Ontario, and Orio. All of them were formed as a result of the melting of a huge glacier, which pressed the earth's surface in place of the lakes about 10,000 years ago.
An interesting fact is that tectonic processes continue to this day, due to which water gradually moves from the northern coast towards the southern one, which leads to land flooding.
Lake Michigan on the map
Characteristics of Lake Michigan
- The depth of the lake reaches 281 meters
- Average depth 85m
- Area 56026 square km
- Lake length 434 km
- It ranks fourth in size among the lakes on our planet.
- Has access to the Mississippi River via the Chicago-Lockport Canal
- Located at an altitude of 177m above sea level
- Trapped in ice for over 3.5 months
- The climate is moderate continental, characterized by sudden changes in weather
- Average annual precipitation 800mm
- The lake is navigable and fishing is developed.
Cities and ports
The largest cities are Evanston, Chicago, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Gary
Chicago photo
Ports - Chicago and Milwaukee.
Flora and fauna
The shores of the lake are hilly, sand predominates and there are dunes (south and southeast) 10 - 20 meters high. There are many national parks with rich vegetation.
The lake is home to a lot of pike, perch, pike perch, and carp. There is salmon and trout.
The animals that choose Lake Michigan for their habitat are amazing in their diversity. This:
- red lynx, in appearance it resembles an ordinary one, but is inferior in size to it. Its peculiarity is its reddish-brown color and a white spot at the tip of its tail. She feeds on rabbits, hunts porcupines, and sometimes plucks up the courage to attack deer. Moves well not only on the ground, but also in trees
- The wolf regulates the balance of ecosystems. They feed mainly on ungulates
- the coast is inhabited by rabbits, voles, lemmings
- Flying squirrels belonging to the squirrel family settled here. They have a membrane of skin between their limbs, which allows them to fly up to 30 meters. They are mainly nocturnal and feed on vegetation and insects; they very rarely descend to the ground. glaucous gulls and herons, geese, and finches chose this lake as a nesting place.
For every species inhabiting the territory of Michigan, there is everything necessary for life, and it is important for us to preserve the pristine nature that exists now - for our children, for our future!
Michigan photo
Attractions
There is plenty of space for divers, and the water is clean and clear. The entire lake area is kept in order and protected by the environmental police. Visitors are offered a variety of entertainment, such as yachting, water skiing, and quad biking along the dunes.
- Shipping Museum
- Slipping Bear Dunes will surprise you with its variety of landscapes and 140 meter dunes
- The lake has its own lighthouses, one of which is popular among tourists, as it is located exactly on the parallel in the middle between the equator and the extreme northern point of our planet.
- In Chicago, you will see a 110-story building, which is the second tallest in the United States, combining nine towers. From the observation deck of the skyscraper, located on the 103rd floor, you can observe the surrounding city and see Lake Michigan from a bird's eye view
- Milwaukee has a huge museum of fine arts, the collection of which consists of more than 25,000 works from various periods of creativity by American masters. There is also a “bridge to nowhere” in Milwaukee, the name given by local residents to the Hoan Bridge, which was built in 1972 and opened in 1977, but was partially functional from 2000 to 2001 due to damage. In order to fully launch the movement, about $16 million had to be invested in repairs.
Chicago is a huge city located in the north of America. This metropolis is located along one of the shores of Lake Michigan. Currently, there is a decent-sized transport hub here.
Description of Lake Michigan
The lake itself is one of the largest among lakes filled with water suitable for drinking. The area of the lake is almost six tens of kilometers. The very name of this reservoir speaks about its area - translated from one of the Indian dialects, the name means “big water”.
The expanse of the lake is connected to another lake called Huron by a strait. In addition, there is a shipping canal leading from Chicago to Lockport. It was built at the border of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The purpose of the canal was to connect the Great Lakes of the mainland.
The reservoir arose due to the fact that in ancient times for people, two tectonic plates collided with each other. Then the glacier began to melt, which caused this huge amount of water to appear.
The surface of the lake is covered with ice for a third of the year, so it cannot be classified as a warm body of water, however, despite this, it is popular among tourists. The depth of the lake in some places is almost three hundred meters. Due to periodically appearing ice, ships sail on the reservoir only in the warm season.
If we consider the geographical location lakes in Chicago it can be seen that it serves as a natural border for several states, territorially separating them from each other. In order to fully enjoy the scenery of the lake, you can visit several coastal cities, for example Chicago, Milwaukee, Hammond, Highland Park. Thus, a trip to the lake will be combined with sightseeing in the city.
Relax on the lake in Chicago
Since the lake also has a cold season, the entertainment that tourists can take advantage of completely depends on the weather. For example, during the warm months the beaches are actively used here. The lake provides more than two and a half thousand kilometers of beaches. Many of them are well equipped. The beaches are used by both local residents and guests of coastal cities.
It is worth noting that Michigan beaches are positively different from others. Their first advantage is the absence of corals, which greatly interfere with recreation on the beaches of salt water bodies. If you round up, there are about three dozen recreation areas located over two thousand kilometers.
For a comfortable holiday, you can use the beaches of Chicago. There you can rent all the necessary equipment. The best beaches are the city's central beach and Navy Pier. They will pleasantly surprise you with their clean and pleasant sand and their comfortable amenities. In addition, these beaches have conditions for active recreation. For example, ball games or renting equipment for boat trips.
For those who have pets, Montrose Beach is always open. In fact, this is one of the few places in the city where you can enjoy the lake in the company of your furry friend. Despite all its friendliness, it also limits the owners to some extent. So, in order to walk here with a pet, you need a special certificate. But parking is open for vacationers, for which you don’t have to pay.
Fullerton Beach is best suited for families. It cannot boast of a rich infrastructure, but it will provide a break from the city and a sea of sand.
Lake Michigan is considered clean. All thanks to the law protecting it from pollution by chemicals and industrial waste. This law allowed the waters to be kept so clean that fishing was possible. At the same time, the number of inhabitants of the lake is so huge that fishing is allowed not only to local residents, but also to tourists. However, a license is required for this activity on the lake. As a rule, it can be obtained from shops that sell fishing equipment. In addition, you should carefully consider the restrictions imposed by this license.
There is a Shipping Museum on the coast of the island. Its exhibits tell about the history of water transport in these places. The museum is aimed at tourists, so a visit to it promises to be interesting for any visitor. In the museum you can also learn about the history of fishing.
The lighthouses of Lake Michigan are especially beloved by locals and visitors. They are scattered along the entire coast, which already constitutes a beautiful landscape. The most popular of these is the Old Mission Lighthouse. It is quite old and looks worn out. Most often, films are made about such places with intricate plots, in which the main characters find traces of otherworldly forces in the towers.
The lake is also dangerous. Both a swimming person and a ship can find themselves in an unexpected whirlpool that appears due to underwater currents. This danger especially increases in the autumn season. It is during these months that the lake shows the full strength of its harmful character. In the autumn months, the lake can be very turbulent, the size of its waves is comparable to ocean waves, and strong winds only complement the picture.
GREAT LAKES, the world's largest lake system in eastern North America, in the St. Lawrence River basin. Includes freshwater lakes Lake Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario (see Table 1). Lake Michigan is entirely located in the United States; the remaining lakes and the rivers connecting them are the border between the United States and Canada, which owns about 1/3 of the Great Lakes.
Table 1. Main characteristics of the Great Lakes
| Lake | Altitude above sea level, m | Volume, thousand km 3 | Area, thousand km 2 | Length, km | Maximum depth, m | Average water exchange time, years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper | 183 | 12,2 | 82,4 | 560 | 406 | 191 |
| Michigan | 177 | 4,9 | 58,0 | 490 | 281 | 99,1 |
| Huron | 176 | 3,5 | 59,6 | 330 | 228 | 22,6 |
| Erie | 174 | 0,5 | 25,7 | 385 | 64 | 2,6 |
| Ontario | 75 | 1,6 | 19,5 | 309 | 244 | 7,9 |
The total area of V. o. 245.2 thousand km 2, total volume of water 22.7 thousand km 3 (21% of the world's surface fresh water reserves). The length of the coastline of St. 15 thousand km. The lakes are connected by short, rapids and high-water rivers: Superior and Huron - the St. Marys River (length 112 km); Huron and Erie - by the St. Clair River (43 km), through Lake St. Clair (area 1275 km 2) and the Detroit River (51 km); Erie and Ontario - the Niagara River (54 km), forming Niagara Falls. From Michigan to Huron, water flows through the Straits of Mackinac, about 3 km wide. In V. o. several hundred small rivers flow in with a total drainage area of 525 thousand km 2, the largest are Escanoba, Kalamazoo, Grand River, Muskegon, Manistee, Au Sable, Saginaw and Maumee. The flow of lake water masses (210 km 3 /year) into the Atlantic Ocean occurs along the St. Lawrence River, flowing from Ontario, and is regulated by the Iroqua hydroelectric complex, located between its source and the mouth of the largest tributary, the Ottawa River.
Basins of V. o. arose as a result of tectonic movements, pre-glacial river and glacial erosion. The bowls of Lake Superior and the northern part of Lake Huron are produced in crystalline rocks of the southern edge of the Canadian shield of the North American platform, the remaining lakes are formed in the thickness of Paleozoic limestones, dolomites and sandstones of the platform cover. After the reduction of the ice cover, the steep banks were transformed by wave abrasion. Beaches, boulder and gravel-sand spits have formed along shallow areas of the coast protected from waves. In the northern part of V. o. the coastline is dissected, the shores (up to 400 m high) are rocky, steep, very picturesque, especially of lakes Superior and Huron. The southern shores are predominantly low, clayey and sandy. The largest island in the entire water area of V. o. – Manitoulin St. 1000 km 2 (Lake Huron).
Climate of the region V. o. moderate continental. Average air temperatures in January on Lake Superior are -8 °C, on the southern shore of Erie -3 °C, in July 19 and 22 °C, respectively. Precipitation is 700–750 mm per year.
In the supply of Lake Verkhneye, the volume of atmospheric precipitation exceeds the influx of river water; in the water balance of the remaining lakes, the role of river runoff and the influx of water from the lakes located above is more significant. Evaporation from the lake surface is approx. 165 km 3 /year (20% less than the flow into the St. Lawrence River). Over the past 150 years, the range of fluctuations in water levels in the region. is ±2 m, its intra-annual fluctuations are no more than 0.3 m due to the regulation of flow by hydraulic structures. Surge distortions of the water surface reach 3–4 m (Superior, Michigan). The speed of currents in the surface layer of the ocean. up to 3–6 km/h. Lakes freeze mainly near the shores (from December–January to March–April). In the central part, due to winter storms, there is no ice cover; only in Ontario is continuous ice cover occasionally observed. Navigation duration is 8–9 months a year. Subglacial stratification of the water column is weakly expressed. In spring and autumn, convective mixing of lake waters to the bottom occurs.
The morphometric differences of water bodies, the heterogeneity of the structure of their water balance and, as a consequence, the different duration of water exchange in them determine the specific hydrological and hydrochemical regime and ecological state of each of the five reservoirs. Lake Verkhnee has the lowest mineralization of the water mass (72 mg/l, see Table 2) due to the predominance of atmospheric precipitation in the incoming part of the water balance (57%) and the longest water exchange. After the ice melts in May, the temperature of the surface layer of water increases from 2 to 12 °C (in September - October), but the thickness of the layer that warms up in summer is almost a hundred times less than the deep layer, which has a temperature close to 4 °C all year round. Water transparency is the highest among waters. (up to 15 m), decreases in bays with wind-wave resuspension of coastal abrasion products. Phytoplankton biomass is 0.05–0.20 g/m3. The primary bioproductivity of organic carbon is the lowest among vegetable matter. – 0.6 mg C/(m 3 per hour). The annual fish catch is more than 4 thousand tons.
Table 2. Average long-term chemical composition of the waters of the Great Lakes (mg/l)
| Lake | Major ions | Nutrients | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSO 3 | SO 4 | Cl | Ca | Mg | Na | K | >SiO2 | N-NO 3 | P-PO 4 | |
| Upper | 50 | 3,2 | 1,9 | 12,4 | 2,8 | 1,1 | 0,6 | >– | 0,26 | 0,003 |
| Michigan | 130 | 15,5 | 6,2 | 32 | 10 | 3,4 | 0,9 | >3,1 | 0,09 | 0,010 |
| Huron | 95,9 | 17,2 | 6,3 | 28,1 | 6,7 | 3,2 | 0,8 | >2,3 | 0,23 | 0,005 |
| Erie | 112,8 | 25,7 | 24,6 | 37,4 | 8,3 | 11,5 | 1,2 | >1,5 | – | 0,015 |
| Ontario | 113,2 | 29,4 | 27,5 | 40,3 | 8,1 | 12,6 | 1,4 | >0,3 | 0,35 | 0,008 |
In the incoming part of Michigan's water balance, the influx of water from the catchment predominates (61%), the water salinity is higher (200 mg/l), but its ionic composition is the same as in lakes Superior and Huron. In its shallower bowl, the water temperature after opening in April from surface to bottom is below 3 °C. By June, the entire water column warms up by 1 °C, and in July temperature stratification occurs with a thermocline at a depth of 40 m at 12 °C at the surface and 4–5 °C below it. In August, the heating of the upper 20-meter layer can reach 18 °C, and by October it will cool down to 10–12 °C. Water transparency in spring is variable - from 8 to 15 m, in August it is 9 m, sometimes 4 m in the northern part of the water area and 3 m in the southern part, which experiences the greatest anthropogenic load. Therefore, the average bioproductivity of the reservoir is 3 times greater than in Lake Superior. The southern part of the lake and Green Bay along the western shore have been particularly affected by eutrophication. Annual fish catch is 11 thousand tons.
In the more flowing Huron, where the water masses of Lakes Superior and Lake Michigan mix, the average water mineralization is 160 mg/l; it noticeably decreases from the northern reaches to the southern ones. The heating of the upper layer of water in July–August increases to 20 °C. The duration of coastal ice phenomena is 80 days, their area does not exceed 60% of the water area. The transparency of the water in the center of the lake increases from 12 m in June to 14 m in July. The saturation of bottom waters with dissolved oxygen is high (85–95%). Bioproductivity varies from 0.7 to 1.7 mg C/(m 3 per hour), only in the heavily polluted Saginaw Bay (southern shore) did it reach 28 mg C/(m 3 per hour). The annual fish catch is almost 3 thousand tons.
In the shallowest, least capacious and most flowing Lake Erie, the contribution of atmospheric precipitation to the incoming part of the water balance is reduced to 10%. The mineralization of the water mass increases to 223 mg/l with a constant ionic composition. In the small shallow western reach, which receives the flow of the Huron water mass along the Detroit River, homothermy is observed throughout the year, but in the vast central reach, summer stratification is common with a surface temperature in August of 22 ° C; in the deepest eastern reach, the temperature jump layer is destroyed only in mid-October. Duration of freeze-up approx. 80 days, but the area of ice cover reaches 95–100% of the water area. Water transparency is the lowest among waterways: in spring it increases from 2 to 3 m, in July–August it reaches 4–4.5 m, then decreases again, especially in stormy weather. The biomass of phytoplankton is very high: in the central and eastern reaches - up to 4-6 mg/l and twice as much in the western reach, polluted by wastewater from the city of Detroit. Bioproductivity averages 10.4 mg C/(m 3 hour), in the western reach it reaches 60 mg C/(m 3 hour). Biosedimentation of autochthonous organic substances and their bacterial oxidation reduce the oxygen content in the bottom water mass under the thermocline, located at a depth of 10–18 m, from 8–9 to 2–4 mg/l. Such hypoxia is unfavorable for benthivorous fish species, however, the annual fish catch in 1915–1980 ranged from 13 to 33 thousand tons.
In the water balance of Lake Ontario, the contribution of atmospheric precipitation is the smallest (7%). The mineralization of the water mass is the highest – 233 mg/l. In summer, temperature stratification is clearly expressed with a thermocline at a depth of 10–30 m in different years, under which the temperature decreases from 6 to 4 °C at a depth of 100 m and to the bottom. Along-shore ice cover on 15% of the water area forms late - in mid-January, and disappears in early April. The transparency of the water mass is similar to its changes in Lake Erie during the growing season. From July to the end of September, water supersaturation with oxygen is observed in the surface layer (up to 110–150%), while in the bottom layers the saturation does not fall below 85–90%. Bioproductivity 5–15 mg C/(m 3 hour). The annual fish catch in 1975–1981 ranged from 1.1 to 3.5 thousand tons.
Composition of the most common species of plankton and benthos in the water masses of the Eastern region. similar The cold-loving phytoplankton is dominated by diatoms, among the semi-submerged macrophytes there are reeds, burrs, reeds, and shrews, and among the submerged ones there are chara and semi-submerged algae. Zooplankton consists mainly of rotifers, cladocerans, copepods, there are mysids, zoobenthos - of oligochaetes, mollusks. In Erie and Ontario, the phytoplankton is dominated by blue-green, diatoms, green and dinophyte algae, the macrophytes are cattail, urut, pondweed, and the zoobenthos is chironomids (bloodworms). In all V. o. There are smelt, yellow perch, alose, lightfin pike perch, in Huron, Superior and Michigan - coho salmon, chinook salmon, char, trout, and whitefish. On the shores of Lake Superior - Tahquamenon Falls Park; Isle Royale Island (Upper) - part of the national park of the same name; between Superior and Michigan is the Seney Reserve.
At hydroelectric power stations of the V. o. 50 billion kWh of energy is produced per year. Total water consumption from the V. o. to the end 20th century exceeded 20 km 3 /year. From 40 to 70% of the water taken from the lakes was used by thermal power plants and nuclear power plants, from 20 to 48% by industrial enterprises, and 5–9% by public utilities. From the Buffalo area, Lake Erie water is carried through the Erie Canal into the Hudson River basin, towards the city of New York. To replenish the water resources of the V. o. Part of the runoff from the Albany river system (Hudson Bay basin) is being transferred to Lake Superior through lakes Nipigon and Long Lake.
The Great Lakes are connected to the Mississippi River basin by a system of shipping canals beginning near the city of Chicago on Lake Michigan. The St. Lawrence River along with the V. o. - the most important natural route connecting the interior of the United States and Canada with the Atlantic Ocean. Inland waterway of V. o. is 1870 km due to the presence of lock canals bypassing the rapids on the St. Marys River (Sault Ste. Marie Canal) and Niagara Falls (two Welland Canals, Canada, USA). After the reconstruction of canals completed in 1959, which were built to bypass rapids on the St. Lawrence River, a waterway was created from the Atlantic Ocean to the East Island. with a length of 3 thousand km and a depth of at least 8 m, accessible to large sea vessels. The main ports are Duluth, Milwaukee, Chicago, Toledo, Cleveland, Erie, Buffalo (USA), Thunder Bay, Hamilton, Toronto (Canada).
The discharge of municipal and industrial wastewater has led to severe pollution and eutrophication of the lake. (especially in bays). Due to the degradation of the ichthyofauna, previously large populations of mink and otter have almost disappeared from some areas of the coasts of Michigan, Huron, and Superior. High concentrations of DDT and mercury are observed in fish tissues. Lake Verkhneye was the least affected by anthropogenic impact, maintaining its oligotrophic status due to its larger size, slower water exchange and low population density in the catchment area (4.5 people/km2). The water in it is the most transparent and has the lowest content of phosphorus available for phytoplankton (<3 мг Р/м 3), низким показателем биомассы фитопланктона – хлорофилла a (<0,4 мг/м 3) и наименьшей первичной продукцией органических веществ. Наиболее низкое качество воды – в самом проточном озере Эри из-за меньших размеров и наибольшей нагрузки его эвтрофной экосистемы загрязняющими веществами сточных вод крупных городов. Экосистема Эри испытала сильнейшее эвтрофирование, но и ранее, чем в других озёрах, наступает её оздоровление благодаря запрету сброса в В. о. недостаточно очищенных сточных вод и наибольшей проточности. Водные массы Мичигана у южных берегов мезотрофны, в центральной части – олиготрофны. Видовой состав фитопланктона Гурона характерен для олиготрофных озёр, но воды залива Сагино сильно эвтрофированы. Прибрежные воды Онтарио эвтрофны и мезотрофны. Будучи замыкающим, оно получает биогенные и токсичные вещества из остальных озёр (за последние годы скорость эвтрофирования заметно понизилась). В 1909 правительства США и Канады подписали соглашения о совместном рациональном использовании водных ресурсов. В последней четверти 20 в. работы по улучшению состояния В. о. активизировались. В результате содержание фосфора в сбрасывемых в Эри водах сократилось на 80%, снизились биомасса фитопланктона и дефицит кислорода в придонной водной массе. Для сохранности олиготрофии Мичигана обработанные сточные воды города Чикаго сбрасывают по судоходному каналу в бассейн реки Миссисипи. Правительства Канады и США продолжают финансировать исследования и проекты улучшения экологического состояния В. о.
On the border of Canada and the United States of America, surrounded by the states of Indiana, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin, lies the huge freshwater Lake Michigan. This blue “eye of the earth” is notable primarily for its gigantic size and luxurious sandy beaches, and the diversity of fish species will not leave any avid fisherman indifferent. Fans of excursion tourism will not be left out either: Michigan has prepared a number of museums and nature reserves for them. Only at first glance, the lake seems like an open book to vacationers, but even in this quiet pool there is a place for secrets and legends.
Through the pages of history. "Big Water"
The history of the largest lake in the United States and the third largest in the Great Lakes system goes back to ancient times. The basin of the reservoir was formed as a result of faults in tectonic plates, but the origin of Lake Michigan is still considered glacial, since it was thanks to the melting of the glacier 12 thousand years ago that the blue “eye of the earth” acquired its final appearance.
Another important milestone in the existence of the lake was its discovery by the French explorer Jean Nicolet in 1634. The name of the reservoir was borrowed from the indigenous population, the Ojibwe Indians, who affectionately called the “eye of the earth” with the word “mishigan,” which translated means “big water.”
The lake is gigantic. Pride of the United States of America
Lake Michigan is now a popular recreation area for all visitors and a source of pride for local residents. The size of the reservoir, located at an altitude of 177 m above sea level, is truly worthy of admiration. The area of the blue “eye of the earth” is 58 thousand square meters. km, while the maximum depth of Lake Michigan reaches 281 m. These factors, as well as length (494 km) and width (190 km), affect the duration of navigation. According to statistics, the reservoir is covered with ice for 4 months a year, reducing the sailing period to 250 days. Ships enter the eye of the earth through the Straits of Mackinac and the Chicago-Lockport Canal, which connect Michigan with Lake Huron and the Mississippi River. The largest port and industrial centers are the cities of Chicago and Milwaukee.
Flickering lighthouse. Excursion tourism
To fully experience the atmosphere of the reservoir, it is worth taking a closer look at the sights that Michigan carefully preserves after decades. The lake is especially attractive for travelers who know a lot about the romance of pristine nature, untouched by human hands. You can admire the fabulous beauty of the sand dunes, the bright color of the emerald hills, and the incredible density and scale of forest plantations in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Nature Reserve.
For those who are inclined towards maximalism, there are also wild islands in the waters of the blue “eye of the earth”. Two of them (North and South Manitou) are uninhabited, and Beaver Island will amaze with its size. Its length is 21 km and its width reaches 10 km.
Fans of fishing and curious tourists in love with the depths of the sea will love an excursion to the Michigan Shipping Museum. Here you can study the basics of shipbuilding and fishing, as well as trace their development on the territory of the reservoir. Lake Michigan will greet vacationers with picturesque views and strange plants. Photos from Route 37 will delight you with the beauty of exotic orchids and lush greenery of the valleys.
You should not neglect the oldest building in the water area of the blue “eye of the earth” - the Old Mission lighthouse, built in the 70s of the 19th century. Interestingly, the white wooden structure is located exactly at the 45th parallel, which is the midpoint between the equator and the North Pole.
Harmony of heights: sea waves and sand dunes soaring to the skies
Most vacationers cannot imagine a good summer vacation without luxurious beaches and a beautiful tan. Michigan - a lake with a coastline of more than 2.5 thousand km can become a real dream come true in reality. The harmony of sandy, dazzling white dunes and transparent sea waves reigns along the entire coast of the blue “eye of the earth”. More than 30 beaches are at the disposal of weary travelers, the most beautiful and picturesque of which is Saugatuck, which is included in the list of the 25 best beaches in the world. But tourists will never be bored. The reservoir offers a whole range of entertainment and recreational activities: from riding a jet ski, boat and yacht to diving and fishing.
Fortune is on the hook. Fishing
Michigan is a lake teeming with various species of fish, a real mecca for fishing fans from early spring to autumn. Before you try your luck and catch carp, trout, perch, pike perch, salmon or whitefish, you will have to carefully study the booklet called “Lake Michigan Fish Consumption Guide,” which is given to each fisherman upon arrival and contains information about the benefits and harms of consuming it or other fish, as well as tips for preparing delicious dishes.
The dark side of the friendly lake. Werewolf and mysteries of the past
The pool of waters of the friendly blue “eye of the earth” hides its secrets. There are legends that in the 19th century the reservoir swallowed up about 500 ships, and more than a century ago a giant steamship 91 m long disappeared without a trace. Just 5 years ago the ship was found and raised to the surface. What was amazing was the fact that the wooden liner was absolutely undamaged by water and time. The ship is still in excellent condition.
But if this phenomenon can be explained by the influence of cold water from the depths of the lake, then another mystery remains unclear to this day. Since 1938, a ghostly wolf man with piercing blue eyes has appeared on the surface of the water and the sandy coast. According to most local residents, the werewolf still terrorizes the entire area, but there are those who claim that the tale of such a monster is just a profitable advertising ploy.
