Crystal Lake (Michigan)
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Crystal Lake is the name of several lakes in the U.S. state of Michigan.
The largest is located near Lake Michigan in Benzie County about 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Traverse City and about 2 miles (3 km) northeast of Frankfort at . It measures approximately 2 by 8 miles (3 by 13 km), and has a maximum depth of 162 feet. At 9,711 acres, it is Michigan's ninth largest inland lake. The watershed that feeds Crystal Lake is very small, and fertilizer and sewage outflows are minimal, leading to the exceptionally clear and beautiful water that gives it its current name. Up to and through the American Civil War years Crystal Lake was known as "Cap Lake" due to the frequent whitecaps visible on its surface.
Crystal Lake is surrounded by sandy beaches due to an attempt in 1873 to connect Crystal Lake and Lake Michigan via a channel. The lake level of Crystal Lake was higher than the level of Lake Michigan and when the channel was open, the water level in Crystal Lake dropped. Although the project was a failure, the lowering of the lake level uncovered sandy beaches and the future town site of the city of Beulah.
Crystal Lake has a uniquely small watershed - the surface area of the lake is 35% of the total area of the watershed (land and water combined). With limited agricultural, septic, and industrial outflows the waters of Crystal Lake have remained relativly clear.
The smaller Crystal Lakes:
- Alcona County in Haynes Township near the village of Lincoln at
- Calhoun County in Fredonia Township near Marshall at
- Dickinson County in Iron Mountain at
- Rural Dickinson County at
- Gogebic County on the border with Wisconsin just east of U.S. Highway 45 at
- Hillsdale County in Somerset Township just north of Somerset Center at
- Houghton County in the Ottawa National Forest a few miles west of Sidnaw on Michigan State Highway 28 at
- Montcalm County in Crystal Township about 15 mile (24 km) southwest of Alma at
- Montmorency County in Albert Township a few miles northwest of Lewiston at
- Newaygo County in Sherman Township midway between Fremont and White Cloud at
- Oakland County near Pontiac at
- Oakland County in Holly Township in the Holly State Recreation Area at
- Oceana County in Hart Township midway between Shelby and Hart, Michigan just east of U.S. Highway 31 at
Sources
CRYSTAL LAKE & WATERSHED ASSOCIATION http://www.clwa.us/index.htm
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