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Lake Michigan third largest (22,178 sq mi/57,441 sq km) of the GREAT LAKES, fifth largest lake in the world, and largest freshwater lake entirely within the U.S. It is 307 mi (494 km) long and 30-120 mi (48-193 km) wide, with a surface elevation of 581 ft (177 m) and a maximum depth of 923 ft (281 m), and it is joined to Lake Huron by the Straits of Mackinac. Chicago and Milwaukee are major lakeshore cities, and Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (est. 1966) borders the southern shore. Discovered in 1634 by the French explorer Jean Nicolet, the lake passed to England in 1763 and to the U.S. as part of the NORTHWEST TERRITORY in 1796.
Fish of Lake Michigan
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