Reviewing Fun Facts about the Great Lakes

 

Lake Michigan Lighthouse- Point Betsie

The Great Lakes are a series of 5 freshwater lakes found in the north central United States.  In this post I will share some fun facts about each of the lakes and I will also share some photos of lighthouses that I have taken while visiting the Great Lakes.  Did you know that there are over 200 lighthouses that are currently active along the over 11,000 miles of coastline?  Each lighthouse is unique, and my husband and I spent several years exploring these lighthouses and photographing all that we could reach by car.

Lake Michigan

The lighthouse above is Two Harbors lighthouse and is found on the shores of Lake Michigan in Minnesota.  This lighthouse is currently an active lighthouse that is also serves as a bed and breakfast inn.  We were fortunate to be able to stay there two nights and I was able to get up and take this photo at sunrise.

Here are a few fun facts about Lake Michigan.

• Lake Michigan is the third largest of the Great Lakes.
• Along the shores of Lake Michigan you will find the largest freshwater sand dunes in the world.
• In the 19th century, Lake Michigan had a pirate problem and the booty they were seeking was timber.
• The first recorded "Big Great Lakes disaster" happened on Lake Michigan when a steamer carrying 600peole collided with a schooner delivering timber.  450 people died.

Lake Ontario

Fort Niagra lighthouse is found along the shores of Lake Ontario in New York.  It is close to Niagra Falls. 

Here are some fun facts about Lake Ontario.

• Lake Ontario is the smallest of the Great Lakes in surface area.
• The province Ontario was named after the lake.
• Babe Ruth hit his first major league home run in Toronto, and it landed in Lake Ontario where it is still believed to be today.
• A lake on Saturn's moon is named after Lake Ontario.

Lake Superior

The above is Big Bay lighthouse which sits on the shores of Lake Superior in northern Michigan.  This lighthouse houses a bed and breakfast that my husband and I stayed in for two days.  I enjoyed having plenty of time to photograph the lighthouse from various settings.  This photo is one that I had printed on canvas, and it sits on our mantle.

Here are some fun facts on Lake Superior.

• It is the largest of the lakes and in fact all of the other Great Lakes could fit inside of it with room to spare.
• It is estimated that there are 100 million lake trout in Lake Superior.
• Lake Superior contains 3 quadrillion gallons of water.
• Lake Superior is actually not a lake at all, rather it is an inland sea.

Lake Erie

Marblehead lighthouse is found on the shores of Lake Erie in Ohio.  We stayed near there on night and I was able to get up early and photograph it in the early morning light.

Here are some fun facts about Lake Erie.

• There is said to be a monster in this lake.  It is 30-40 feet long and was first seen in 1793.  It is named Bessie.
• During the war of 1812 a naval battle called the Battle of Lake Erie was won by the US over the British, forcing the British to abandon Detroit.
• Lake Erie is the fourth largest in surface area.
• Lake Erie is surrounded by more industry than any of the other Great Lakes.

Lake Huron

Tawas Point lighthouse is found on the shores of Lake Huron in eastern Michigan.  I found it to be a very picturesque setting.

Here are some fun facts about Lake Huron.

• If it were not for the Straits of Mackinac, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan might be considered to be one lake.
• Goederich Mine is the largest salt mine in the world and part of it runs under Lake Erie.
• Lake Huron is second largest of the Great Lakes and is the fifth largest lake in the world.

Lighthouse Reviews

The links below are reviews of lighthouses that I visited on the Great Lakes.

• Reviewing Lighthouses in Erie Pennsylvania (reviewthisreviews.com)
• You Too can be a Lighthouse Keeper (reviewthisreviews.com)
• Photographic Review of Buffalo New York Lighthouse (reviewthisreviews.com)
• Review of Small Town Fun in Conneaut Ohio (reviewthisreviews.com)

Footnote

Facts for this article were gathered online at targetwalleye.com/things-you-probably-never-knew-about-the-great-lakes

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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