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<br>[[Image:Lake Michigan.jpg|thumb|right|200x300px|Lake Michigan.jpg]]The only one of the five Great Lakes of North America that is located entirely within the United States is Lake Michigan. The other four Great Lakes are shared by the US and Canada. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume <ref>GLIN, "Lake Michigan" at Great-lakes.net. (accessed 20 November 2013).</ref> 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). The wide Straits of Mackinac to the east of Lake Michigan conjoin it with Lake Huron, giving it the same surface elevation as its easterly counterpart; the two are technically a single lake. The states of | <br>[[Image:Lake Michigan.jpg|thumb|right|200x300px|Lake Michigan.jpg]]The only one of the five Great Lakes of North America that is located entirely within the United States is Lake Michigan. The other four Great Lakes are shared by the US and Canada. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume <ref>GLIN, "Lake Michigan" at Great-lakes.net. (accessed 20 November 2013).</ref> 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). The wide Straits of Mackinac to the east of Lake Michigan conjoin it with Lake Huron, giving it the same surface elevation as its easterly counterpart; the two are technically a single lake. The states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan form the boundaries of Lake Michigan. The word "Michigan" originally referred to the lake itself, and is believed to come from the Ojibwa word mishigami meaning "great water".<ref>Encyclopedia of Chicago, "Lake Michigan" at http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/711.html (accessed 20 November 2013).</ref> | ||
=== History === | === History === | ||
Some of the earliest known human inhabitants of the Lake Michigan region were the Hopewell Indians. Their culture declined after 800 AD, and later was the home of peoples known as the Late Woodland Indians. It was in the early seventeenth century that western European explorers came to the region. The people they encountered were descendants of the Late Woodland Indians: the Chippewa, Menominee, Sauk, Fox, Winnebago, Miami, Ottawa, and Potawatomi.<ref name="Lake Michigan on wikipedia"> Lake Michigan[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Michigan](accessed 20 November 2013)</ref> | Some of the earliest known human inhabitants of the Lake Michigan region were the Hopewell Indians. Their culture declined after 800 AD, and later was the home of peoples known as the Late Woodland Indians. It was in the early seventeenth century that western European explorers came to the region. The people they encountered were descendants of the Late Woodland Indians: the Chippewa, Menominee, Sauk, Fox, Winnebago, Miami, Ottawa, and Potawatomi.<ref name="Lake Michigan on wikipedia"> Lake Michigan[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Michigan](accessed 20 November 2013)</ref> <br><br> | ||
[[Image:Woodland indian camp.jpg|thumb|left]]The first Europeans to see Lake Michigan were French traders and explorers in the 1600's, one of which called Lake Michigan the Grand Lac. Later it would also be called by the names: "Lac Dauphin", "Lake of the Stinking Water", and "Lake of the Puants" c. 1670. (The Winnebago Indians were called Puans by the French explorers.) On a 1688 map, Lake Michigan is called Lac des Illinois. An Indian name for Lake Michigan was "Michi gami" and through further interaction with the Indians, the lake received its final name of Michigan.<ref>Great Lakes Michigan Facts [http://great-lakes.net/lakes/ref/michfact.html](accessed 20 November 2013)</ref> | [[Image:Woodland indian camp.jpg|thumb|left]]The first Europeans to see Lake Michigan were French traders and explorers in the 1600's, one of which called Lake Michigan the Grand Lac. Later it would also be called by the names: "Lac Dauphin", "Lake of the Stinking Water", and "Lake of the Puants" c. 1670. (The Winnebago Indians were called Puans by the French explorers.) On a 1688 map, Lake Michigan is called Lac des Illinois. An Indian name for Lake Michigan was "Michi gami" and through further interaction with the Indians, the lake received its final name of Michigan.<ref>Great Lakes Michigan Facts [http://great-lakes.net/lakes/ref/michfact.html](accessed 20 November 2013)</ref> | ||
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These cities have large seasonal populations that arrive from the nearby urban areas such as Chicago, Milwaukee, Grand Rapids and Detroit, as well as from Southern states, such as Florida and Texas. Some seasonal residents have summer homes along the waterfront and return home for the winter. | These cities have large seasonal populations that arrive from the nearby urban areas such as Chicago, Milwaukee, Grand Rapids and Detroit, as well as from Southern states, such as Florida and Texas. Some seasonal residents have summer homes along the waterfront and return home for the winter. | ||
The southern tip of the lake near Gary, Indiana is heavily industrialized. | The southern tip of the lake near Gary, Indiana is heavily industrialized. | ||
=== Connection to Ocean and Open Water === | === Connection to Ocean and Open Water === | ||
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[[Image:Montrose Beach Chicago.jpg|thumb|left|300x150px|Montrose Beach Chicago.jpg]] | [[Image:Montrose Beach Chicago.jpg|thumb|left|300x150px|Montrose Beach Chicago.jpg]] | ||
<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Lake Michigan has many beaches, and is often referred to as the "Third Coast" of the United States (the others being the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean). | <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Lake Michigan has many beaches, and is often referred to as the "Third Coast" of the United States (the others being the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean). </span> | ||
The sand dunes located on the Michigan shore are the largest freshwater dune system in the world. In many locations the dunes rise several hundred feet above the Lake surface. Large dune formations can be seen in many state parks, national forests and national parks along the Indiana and Michigan shoreline.<br><br>The Great Lakes Circle Tours are designated scenic road systems connecting all of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. More information about them can be found at the Michigan Highway website: | The sand dunes located on the Michigan shore are the largest freshwater dune system in the world. In many locations the dunes rise several hundred feet above the Lake surface. Large dune formations can be seen in many state parks, national forests and national parks along the Indiana and Michigan shoreline.<br><br>The Great Lakes Circle Tours are designated scenic road systems connecting all of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. More information about them can be found at the Michigan Highway website: [http://www.michiganhighways.org/other/glct.html www.michiganhighways.org/other/glct.html] | ||
=== Car Ferries === | === Car Ferries === | ||
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=== Parks === | === Parks === | ||
[[Image:Platte flowing into lake michigan.jpg|thumb|left|250x190px|Platte flowing into lake michigan.jpg]]Within the lake there are a number of state and local parks located on the shore or upon the islands. | [[Image:Platte flowing into lake michigan.jpg|thumb|left|250x190px|Platte flowing into lake michigan.jpg]]Within the lake there are a number of state and local parks located on the shore or upon the islands. The National Park Service maintains the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The Platte River flows into Lake Michigan at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The shallow, sandy bottom of the riverbed makes it fun for tubing. | ||
<br>Parts of the shoreline are within the Hiawatha National Forest and the Manistee National Forest. The Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness is located within a section of the Manistee National Forest. The Lake Michigan division of the Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge is also within the lake. | <br>Parts of the shoreline are within the Hiawatha National Forest and the Manistee National Forest. The Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness is located within a section of the Manistee National Forest. The Lake Michigan division of the Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge is also within the lake. | ||
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