Michigan location area km2. Great Lakes

There are about 5 million lakes in the world, but we have only heard of a few of the largest. Do you think Baikal is the most big lake in the world? In fact, Baikal occupies only the 7th line in the ranking of the largest lakes!

Did you know that the area of ​​the largest lake on the planet is equal to the area of ​​52 million football fields and is comparable to the area of ​​Moscow multiplied by 150 times? No? Then read below!

No. 10. Great Slave Lake - 28,930 square kilometers. North America.

The Great Slave Lake is the 10th largest lake in the world in terms of area, and it is also the most deep lake in North America. Its depth is 614 meters. The dimensions of the Great Slave Lake are 480 km long, 19-109 km wide, and the area is 28,930 square kilometers.

From October to June, the lake is covered with ice; in winter, the ice can withstand the weight of trucks. Rivers flowing into the lake: Hay, Slave, Snowdrift, etc. The Mackenzie River flows out of the lake. The origin of the lake is glacial-tectonic.





No. 9. Lake Nyasa - 30,044 square kilometers. East Africa.

Lake Nyasa (Malawi) is the ninth largest lake in the world. Lake Nyasa fills a crack in the earth's crust in the Great Rift Valley V East Africa, located between Mozambique and Tanzania. The length of the lake is 560 km, the depth is 706 m. Nyasa contains 7% of the world's reserves of liquid fresh water.

Nyasa is known for its rich ecosystem, many of the species found in the lake are endemic. The origin of the lake is tectonic.





No. 8. big Bear Lake- 31,080 square kilometers. Canada.

The Great Bear Lake is located 200 km south of the Arctic Circle in Canada. The lake ranks eighth in area in the world and fourth in North America. The dimensions of the lake: length - 320 km, width - 175 km, maximum depth - 446 m.

The lake has not much good story. Uranium was found here. It was from here that uranium was mined for the manufacture of bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The lake is almost always covered with ice, the ice rarely melts before the end of July. The origin of the lake is glacial-tectonic.





No. 7. Lake Baikal - 31,500 square kilometers. Eastern Siberia.

Baikal is the deepest lake in the world, the largest water reservoir, which contains 20% of the world's liquid fresh water. Baikal is also considered one of the cleanest lakes in the world.

The lake ranks seventh in terms of area in the world and first in terms of volume. The dimensions of the lake are: length - 636 km, width - 80 km, maximum depth - 1642 m, volume - 23,600 km3.
The origin of the lake is tectonic, the age is more than 25 million years. The fauna of Lake Baikal is one of the most unique in the world, many species are endemic.

No. 6. Lake Tanganyika - 32,893 square kilometers. Central Africa.

Lake Tanganyika is one of the most deep lakes in the world, along with Baikal. The lake lies between 4 countries - Democratic Republic Congo, Tanzania, Zambia and Burundi.

The dimensions of the lake are: length - 676 ​​km, width - 72 km, maximum depth - 1470 m, volume - 18,900 km3. The origin of the lake is tectonic.

Tanganyika lies in the deepest tectonic basin Africa and enters the basin of the Congo River, one of largest rivers in the world.





No. 5. Lake Michigan - 58,016 square kilometers. North America.

Lake Michigan is one of the Great Lakes. This lake is the largest of the lakes located entirely within the United States. Michigan is the fifth largest in the world and the third among the Great Lakes. The volume of the lake is 4918 m3, length - 494 km, width - 190 km, maximum depth - 281 m. The origin of the lake is glacial-tectonic.





No. 4. Lake Huron - 59,596 square kilometers North America.

Lake Huron is one of the Great Lakes. This lake is located on the territory of two countries: the USA and Canada. Huron is the fourth largest lake in the world. The volume of the lake is 3538 m3, length - 331 km, width - 295 km, maximum depth - 229 m. The origin of the lake is glacial-tectonic.




No. 3. Lake Victoria - 69,485 square kilometers. East Africa.

Lake Victoria is located in Tanzania, Kenya. After the construction of the Owen Falls Dam in 1954, the lake was turned into a reservoir. There are many islands on the lake. Fishing is developed on the lake and there are many ports on the territory of the three countries. On the island of Rubondo (Tanzania), a national park has been formed.

Victoria is the third largest lake in the world. The volume of the lake is 2760 m3, the length is 320 km, the width is 274 km, the maximum depth is 80 m. The origin of the lake is tectonic.

The lake was discovered and named after Queen Victoria by British traveler John Henning Speke in 1858.

No. 2. Lake Superior - 82,414 square kilometers. North America.

Lake Superior is the second largest in the world and the largest among the Great Lakes, located on the border of the United States and Canada. The volume of the lake is 12,000 m3, length - 563 km, width - 257 km, maximum depth - 406 m. The origin of the lake is glacial-tectonic.

Etymology of the name. In the Ojibwe language, the lake is called Gichigami, which means " big water».





No. 1. Caspian Sea - 371,000 square kilometers. Europe Asia.

The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth and is classified as the largest lake or sea due to its size. Located at the junction of Europe and Asia. Volume - 78,200 m3, length - 1200 km, width - 435 km, maximum depth - 1025 m. The coastline of the Caspian Sea is approximately 6500 kilometers long.

130 rivers flow into the Caspian Sea, the largest of them are the Volga, Terek, Sulak, Ural, Kura, Artek, etc. The Caspian Sea washes the shores of Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Russia, Azerbaijan.
The origin of the lake is oceanic.





Lake Michigan - the most majestic and largest fresh lake in the USA, its area is almost 59,000 sq. km. The name translates as "big water".

The lake is connected to Lake Hudson through the Strait of Mackinac, and to the Mississippi by the navigable Chicago-Lockport Canal. Since the 19th century, the lakes have been chosen for recreation by wealthy citizens of Chicago. And today the coast of Michigan attract tourists from all over the world.

scenic landscapes, gorgeous beaches, occupations by any water sports, interesting do not leave anyone indifferent. There are enough megacities on the shores of the lake to get to Michigan without any problems.

Available regular flights to Chicago, Evanston, Highland Park, Green Bay, Gary, Milwaukee, Hammond. In every city there are hotels and campsites right on the coast, where the view from the windows is simply gorgeous.

Michigan is a great place for fishing enthusiasts. Ice on the lake is only four months of the year. IN summer time The coast is littered with fishermen. You can catch salmon, carp, salmon, trout, pike perch, perch. protection agency environment a special booklet "Manual for catching fish from Lake Michigan" was developed, which contains all the information about fish and catching it. It is issued upon arrival at the place of fishing.

Michigan beaches deserve separate topic. The transparency of the lake attracts diving enthusiasts. The water here is more like ocean water than lake water. There are no corals in shallow water, and other troubles about which you can get hurt.

In total, the coast has about 30 beaches, kilometers white sand kept clean, the area is very well maintained. Vacationers have access to a full range of leisure activities. Yachting, sailing water skiing and motorcycles, exploring the sand dunes on foot or on ATVs, hiking and walking along the coast, picnicking on lawns near the water, contemplating the incredible beauty of sunsets, and in a storm - waves that are not inferior to ocean waves in their power.

In order to broaden your horizons, you can also visit the Michigan Shipping Museum, and learn about the development of the history of shipbuilding, fishing, shipping, national reserve Sleeping-bear-Dunes, the lighthouse of the Old Mission, standing exactly on the 45th parallel.

Just north of Michigan, you can visit a valley with small lakes and the most beautiful exotic orchids. Landscapes in the valley are fascinating, leaving vivid impressions for a long time!

Video: Lake Michigan - walk

Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan is one of the five great lakes North America. It is noteworthy that it is one of all its brethren located entirely in the United States. In terms of the area of ​​the water surface, it occupies the 3rd place after the lakes Superior and Huron. In terms of fresh water volume, it occupies the 2nd place, ahead of Huron. Some experts consider Michigan and Huron as a single lake. connected by the Strait of Mackinac. Thanks to him, the water level in the reservoirs is the same. If we take this point of view as true, then the water hybrid takes 1st place in terms of area among all fresh lakes planets.

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. 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. 4 states adjoin the lake. These are Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. 12 million people live along the coastline. The largest cities along the coast are Chicago and Milwaukee.

2.7 million people live in Chicago (Illinois). With the surrounding suburbs, a huge metropolis with a population of 9.8 million people is formed. This is the 3rd place in the country after New York and Los Angeles. Milwaukee is located to the north and belongs to the state of Wisconsin. Its population reaches 595 thousand people. With the suburbs, it equals 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 its 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 slightly creaks underfoot. This is due to the high content of quartz in it. Water in coastal zone warm even at the end of summer. Near the coast are observed sand dunes. Especially a lot of them in the state of Indiana and Michigan.

On the northern coast of the lake there are stones from petrified corals. Sometimes there are whole colonies of such stones. Their surface is decorated with peculiar original drawings, which sharply distinguishes these natural formations from ordinary pebbles.

In general, the coastline of the western and northern part east coast rocky. And the southern and eastern sandy and covered with dunes. This is explained by the predominance of westerly winds. They also contribute to the formation of a thick layer of ice in winter period on the east coast.

Ferries run across the lake. The largest ferry is the Badger. It runs between the states of Michigan and Wisconsin. It is the last remaining coal-fired ship to operate on the Great Lakes. Since 2004, the Lake Express ferry has been operating on the reservoir. Its flights also operate across the lake, linking Milwaukee with Muzkegon. Ferries carry passengers, cars and a wide variety of cargo.

WITH Atlantic Ocean the reservoir is connected through a system of straits, lakes and canals. But large ocean-going ships, of course, do not moor in the Chicago port. But there are many pleasure boats. They easily overcome the system of channels and locks between the Great Lakes. Navigation is 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.

Beaver Island is the largest on the lake. 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. It can be reached by boat or by air. The length is 21 km and the width is from 5 to 10 km. The remaining islands of the archipelago are much smaller.

To the south is the island of North Manitou, 19 km from the east coast. It is 12 km long and 6 km wide. South-west lies the island of South Manitou, 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 the French explorer Jean Nicolet (1598-1642). On the reservoir and nearby lands, he was in the period 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. Along the shores arose river ports and trading communities. Today it is a large industrial area, inextricably linked with the economy of the whole country.

Lake Michigan is the bottom of the three famous Great Lakes of the United States, which occupies the 5th place on our planet among lakes. The navigable lake is entirely within the United States, unlike the other Great Lakes. The word "mishigami" is translated from the Indian language as "big water", which fully justified its name. The area of ​​Lake Michigan is 58,000 sq.

sq. km. The depth of the lake is 281 m. It is covered with ice for four months of the year. large islands the lakes are South Manitou, North Manitou and Beaver. On the shore of the lake there are large cities of the USA - Chicago, Evanston, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Hammond. America's rivers such as the Manistee, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, and Menominee flow into Lake Michigan.

The first inhabitants of Lake Michigan were the ancient Indian tribes. In 1622, thanks to the French scientist Etienne Brule, the coast of Lake Michigan was explored, and 40 years later the first Europeans settled here.

Because the lake is surrounded major metropolitan areas, agriculture, industrial complexes, including oil refineries and steel mills, the territory of the lake began to gradually become polluted.

In 1970, this was the impetus for the State General Assembly to pass the Environmental Protection Act. For 30 years, there have been successful efforts to restore and protect the Lake Michigan area. Every "harmful" enterprise today monitors the purification of air, soil and water.

Fishing on the lake

The lake is rich in various fish.

Carp, trout, whitefish, salmon, perch, pike perch and many other species of fish are found here. It makes the lake great place for fishing. Every weekend, fishermen come to the lake even from neighboring states. Every fisherman in without fail receives the "Guidelines for Consumption of Fish from Lake Michigan". This special guide, developed by the Environmental Protection Agency, contains advice on the benefits and harms of eating fish from the lake.

For example, many nursing and pregnant mothers should not eat certain types of fish, and young children should not eat any fish from the lake at all.

Lake Michigan has long been a favorite destination for tourists. They are attracted not only by the lake itself, but also by the sights on its coast. One of them is the Michigan Shipping Museum.

Leaves an unforgettable impression national reserve Sleeping Bear Dunes. Here you can get acquainted with various ecosystems, sand dunes up to 140 m high, impenetrable forests. Unprecedented beauty complement the picturesque landscapes, emerald hills. by the most old building Lake Michigan is the Old Mission Lighthouse, built in 1870.

This white wooden lighthouse connects the equator and the North Pole at the 45th parallel.

Lake Michigan beaches

The coastal zone of Lake Michigan is famous for its sandy beaches, which attract tourists not only to sunbathe, but also to go fishing, sports, diving, cycling, jet skiing. The lake itself provides an excellent opportunity to relax on a yacht or boat. Numerous campsites on the coast of Michigan complement the rest by all the rules.

The beaches of Michigan provide a great opportunity to admire the high dunes, magnificent sunsets and sunrises, delivering a lot of comfort for a good rest.
Almost all beaches are landscaped, surrounded by beauty and harmony. Due to their popularity and cleanliness, they gather a lot of tourists.

The best such beach is Saugatuck, which is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Lakeside with harbor sandy beaches, huge waves are so amazing and picturesque that it looks like a seashore. The bottom of the lake consists only of sand, without corals, which makes it possible to swim with even greater pleasure.



Interesting facts about Michigan

  • Lake Michigan managed to absorb in the XIX century.

    over 500 ships. More than 100 years ago, a huge wooden steamship 91 meters long sank here. In 2010, the ship was safely raised to the surface. It was in excellent condition, because. rested for a long time at the very depths of the lake, where the water has a very low temperature.

  • The lake is famous for its Loch Ness monster. Since 1938, a wolf man has been seen here. This werewolf blue eyes can be seen both on land and in water.

    He instills fear in all the inhabitants of Michigan.

  • Located on the shore Art Museum biotech style. Here are collected unique collections of native art, American postmodern, German expressionism.

Information

  • A country: USA
  • Regions: Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin
  • Height above sea level: 177 m
  • Length: 494 km
  • Width: 190 km
  • Square: 57,750 km²
  • Volume: 4918 km³
  • coastline length: 2636 km
  • Greatest depth: 281 m
  • Type of mineralization: fresh

The Great Lakes are unique. They are located on the territory of two countries (USA and Canada) and are connected to a network of rivers and canals that form the water system.

These freshwater lakes with good reason are called "super", only 5 of them, the number drinking water in them is 22,671 km3, and total area is 244,106 km2. Without this large pool, many North Americans would be left without water.

Highlights are upper lakes: Upper, Michigan and Huron and lower lakes: Erie and Ontario.

general information

The depth of the upper part is more than 400 meters. Michigan and Huron provide water to these major cities in the United States such as Chicago and Detroit, and between Erie and Ontario is the magnificent Niagara Falls.

According to one version, these unique waters were created after the melting of the glaciers. According to the chemical composition of fossils, scientists have found that when the water in the lakes is much colder.

Over a hundred thousand years ago, he demanded that an icy stream carve out five of the largest basins in the world.

Lake Superior

The most magnificent of all five is Lake Superior. With a storm, the height of its waves reaches 12 meters. In terms of scale, the lake is still on Baikal (the deepest and clean lake in the world).

There are many places on the coast for recreation and camping, which tourists are happy to visit in the summer. Scientific research is carried out throughout the year.

Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan, which in Indian means "big water", has a length of 2.5 thousand kilometers and resembles pacific coast. Surprising even the most resourceful tourists. Rest near this pond is an elitist and expensive pleasure, and the most popular activity among locals and visitors is fishing.

Lake Huron

The name Huron comes from Indian tribe Huron, who once lived near its shores.

The reservoir contains a huge number of islands (about 30 thousand), many of which are natural and historical reserves. Huron's water is clean and clear, but it only heats up by +14 - +16 degrees.

Lake Erie

Lake Erie is the smallest among the Great.

Its waters and favorable environment have a strong influence on the formation of many different fish, making the pond very popular for fishing. The best grapes are produced on the banks of the Erie. Here agriculture and navigation are developing well.

Lake Ontario

Lake Ontario is like a blue sky without borders and is located near the city of Toronto - the main entertainment center for family summer holidays.

The large ports of Hamilton, Rochester and Kingston are located on the low rivers of the reservoir. Due to its low depth, it has never been frozen or stormed, which contributes to the ideal development of agriculture.

Researchers estimate that lakes contain about 18% of the world's freshwater reservoir.

There are over 174 species of fish in the Great Lakes basin (our families, salmon, carp, etc.).

According to scientists, these places are the best in the world.

Groundwater is the main source of energy for the huge pool. And the well-known reservoirs themselves supply more than 30 million people living in Canada and the United States. The main areas of the population: industry, trade, tourism, communications. Due to high concentrations of pollution, declining fish numbers, and the presence of hazardous chemicals in water bodies, an agreement was signed between the United States and Canada in 1972 to improve water quality in the Great Lakes basin, which the state allocated several million dollars.

People visit unique natural monument from all over the world.

Tourists call these places " paradise resort". They come in search of unforgettable experiences, fresh healthy water and clean air enough for everyone.

photos

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Where is Michigan located? Coordinates, map and photo.

Michigan is located in the northern United States, in the Great Lakes region.

It is the tenth most populous and eleventh largest state in the United States.

Almost 10 million people live in Michigan. Michigan's largest city, Detroit, is in crisis and is bankrupt. The state capital of Michigan is Lansing.

Coordinates:
44 northern latitude
85 west longitude

Michigan on interactive map which can be controlled:

Michigan is on the list: USA

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Lake Michigan: where is it on the map, photo, area, depth, rivers, fish, cities

Michigan a lake in the USA. The largest lake within America. Included in the five Great Lakes. Located in four states: Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.

Located at an altitude of 176 m above sea level, the area is 57,757 sq. km, greatest depth 281 m.

Many rivers flow into Michigan, some of them are Manistee, Muskegon, Grand River, Kalamazoo, Menominee.

Lake Michigan is connected to Lake Huron by the Strait of Mackinac. The Saint Lawrence River flows from the Great Lakes chain and flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

Large cities are located on the lake: Green Bay, Milwaukee, Chicago, Gary. There are islands: Beaver, Washington, North Manitou.

The lake is home to such fish as: carp, trout, salmon, whitefish, perch, etc. The lake is navigable.

Lake Michigan is located just south of Lake Superior. Huge body of water resulting from a collision tectonic plates and the melting of the glacier, is connected by a strait with Lake Huron, forming a single hydraulic system with it. Michigan also communicates with the great American Mississippi River. This happens through the artificial Chicago-Lockport Canal.

Lake Michigan has had its sonorous name since pre-Columbian times. The literal translation of the word from the language of the Ojibwe Indian tribe sounds like "big water". Michigan cannot be attributed to the warmest lakes. Four months of the year it is covered with a layer of ice, despite the fact that the depth of the reservoir can reach 281 m. Because of this natural feature navigation on the lake is seasonal.

Lake Michigan is the water border for four states: Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. To evaluate great views one of the greatest lakes North America, it is not necessary to choose a special route. The trip can be combined with visiting cities such as Evanston, Chicago, Highland Park, Milwaukee, Hammond, as they are all located on the Michigan coast.

Where to relax and what to see

The entertainment available to visitors to Lake Michigan is directly related to the time of year. For example, summer season- the best period for active beach holiday. On two and a half thousand kilometers of Michigan coastline, there is enough space not only local residents, but also to numerous tourists who came to splash in the clean clear water great lake.

Beaches

The main advantages of local beaches are coarse white sand and the absence of coastal corals, which are so abundant. sea ​​coast. In total, Lake Michigan has 30 zones adapted for recreation.

Travelers who prefer popular and crowded places are better off renting a sunbed on Chicago's main beach, Oak Street Beach, or on Ohio Street Beach, located next to the naval pier. Both places have developed infrastructure and are ready to offer visitors the widest range of entertainment, from traditional volleyball to water scooter rides.

Among the owners of four-legged pets, Montrose Beach is especially popular. This is practically the only beach in Chicago that you can visit with a dog. True, for this you need to acquire a special permit. But parking here is completely free.

Tired of the bustle of the city, as well as families with children, you should go to Fullerton Beach. Here, of course, you will have to sacrifice a little personal comfort, because, unlike Oak Street Beach, there are no additional amenities on the beach. But there is plenty of silence and coarse white sand. Well, the guests of Milwaukee, who gathered to admire the sun setting over Lake Michigan, it is better to do it on Badfort Beach.

Fishing

Thanks to the timely adopted law to protect the lake from chemical and industrial pollution, the waters of Michigan retained their purity, which had a positive effect on its inhabitants. Today, there are so many fish in the lake that not only a US citizen can afford the pleasure of sitting with a fishing rod, but also Foreign tourists. Salmon, trout, pike, carp, whitefish, pike perch - the species diversity of local fish can amaze even the richest imagination! To enjoy "Michigan delicacies", you will first have to acquire a license that gives permission to fish. Usually the document is sold in shops selling fishing equipment, and has certain restrictions.

An alternative to fishing can be a tour of the Shipping Museum. The local exposition is aimed at tourists and acquaints visitors with the history of shipbuilding, as well as the development of the fishing industry in the region.

Another one business card Lake Michigan - lighthouses. One view of the single towers dispersed along the entire coastline evokes rather mixed feelings. Most famous building- beacon of the Old Mission. The dilapidated building is involuntarily associated with a favorite plot of American thrillers in which old tower necessarily becomes the abode of otherworldly forces and a repository of dark secrets.

You can wander along the sand dunes, try to conquer their unsteady peaks, and also admire the views from them. national park Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. In cases where you want to deviate from the usual tourist routes and get acquainted with the wild corners of the local nature, it is better to order a boat and go to the most big islands Lakes Michigan: South and North Manitou.

Lake Michigan - a landmark with character

Despite the fact that no relatives live in the waters of Michigan loch ness monster, there are plenty of dangerous secrets near the reservoir. The most important of them is unpredictable undercurrents that appear “out of nowhere”. Both an overly arrogant swimmer and a small ship can become a prisoner of a crazy whirlpool. Lake Michigan shows its character especially brightly in autumn. It was at this time that huge waves appeared on its surface, in height and destructive power, capable of competing with the ocean ones. Strong gusts of wind complete the apocalyptic picture.

Among local population there is a legend about the Michigan Triangle: this is the name of a separate part of the lake, with which it is connected mysterious disappearance courts. So, for example, in 1950, Northwest Airlines flight 2501 disappeared here without a trace. The researchers had to be content with only a few fragments of the airliner's skin, while no traces of the crash were found either at the bottom of the reservoir or on its surface.

They also love absolutely incredible stories on the coast, like the story of the Michigan werewolf. The attack of a creature unknown to science was recorded on video back in 1977. Although the film has not been officially recognized as reliable, the legend of the blue-eyed monster continues to excite the imagination of the locals. Over time, the story has acquired a bunch of details and turned into an excellent attraction for tourists.

How to get there

You can get to Lake Michigan from one of major cities located on its banks. Regular flights are available for travelers to Chicago, Evanston and Highland Park (Illinois), Milwaukee and Green Bay (Wisconsin), Gary and Hammond (Indiana).

French explorer Jean Nicolet discovered Lake Michigan in the 17th century and explored it from 1634 to 1638. During this period, Indian tribes lived along the coast of the lake, whose main occupations were hunting and fishing. Indians have lived in this area since the 1st millennium BC. e. One of the ancient Indian Ojibwa tribes gave the name to the lake. Michigan means "big water" in their language.

Indeed, Lake Michigan, with an area of ​​​​over 57 thousand km 2, is one of the most big lakes North America. The lake is so huge that there are islands within it. The largest among them is the Beaver, which is 21 km long and 5 to 10 km wide. Of interest is the island of South Manitou, which has the shape of a square, all sides of which are equal to 5 km. The lake has a rather impressive maximum depth of 281 meters.

Lake Michigan on the map of America.

Along the lake are 4 US states: Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana, and major cities coasts are considered to be Milwaukee and Chicago.

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Lake Michigan is famous for its unique beaches. The high content of quartz in the sand causes creaking when walking and gives sandy beaches softness and whiteness. Sand dunes form off the coast of Indiana and Michigan, and on northern shores can be amazing rocks formed from fossilized corals.

Warm coastal waters similar to the Pacific coast white sandy beaches attracted wealthy Americans to the shores of Michigan at the beginning of the last century, since it was expensive and prestigious to rest here. Now times have changed, and holidays on the coast of Michigan have become more affordable.

In winter, the lake is covered with a thick layer of ice, which is especially thick near the eastern shores.

Fishing is one of the most popular types of recreation on the lake. And this is no coincidence. The waters of the lake are rich in fish. Here you can catch salmon, carp, trout, salmon, perch, zander and many other valuable fish species. Fishing in the lake takes place under the control of the Environmental Protection Agency, which deals not only with prohibitions and fines, but primarily with the organization of the process of catching fish. The agency determines fishing spots, develops special instructions, including advice to fishermen, information about fish species, their useful properties and even offers recipes for cooking fish dishes.

This environmental organization strictly monitors the cleanliness of the reservoir and its banks. A system of fines has been developed for leaving garbage on the shore, for staying with pets, for staying on the beach after closing time and for drinking alcohol. All these measures are not only prescribed, but are actively operating.

In addition, daily bacteriological analyzes of water are carried out, and at the slightest deviation from the norm, the beaches are closed.

Michigan is an important transport artery of the United States. Here ply pleasure boats, passenger and cargo ferries, the most famous of which is the Lake Express. The lake is connected with the Atlantic Ocean by a system of locks and canals. In winter, navigation on the lake stops for three months.

Video: MIchigan Lake Cruise / Walk on Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan dominated by twin waterspouts