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Lake HuronFrom Great Lakes Wiki  Lake Huron is the second-largest Great Lake and the fifth largest freshwater lake in the world. Centrally located between the upper and lower Great Lakes, Lake Huron receives the waters of Lake Superior through the St. Marys River and those of Lake Michigan through the Straits of Mackinac; it drains into Lake Erie through the St. Clair River–Lake St. Clair–Detroit River system. Large tributaries flowing into the lake include the Mississagi, Wanapitei, Spanish, and French rivers from Ontario, and the Au Sable and Saginaw rivers from Michigan. About two-thirds of the lake's 51,700-square-mile watershed is still covered by forests, and human impact on the lake has been low. More than 30,000 islands are located within its waters, including Manitoulin Island, the largest freshwater island in the world. These islands seperate Georgian Bay, the largest bay in the Great Lakes system, from the main body of water. The lake has two areas of concern; St. Clair River and Saginaw Bay/River in Michigan.
[edit] History Lake Huron, along with the other four lakes, was created during the period of glacial retreat some 5,000 years ago. Originally inhabited by the Woodland Indians, including the Alqonquin and Iroquois, the lake was named "La Mer Douce" (the sweet-freshwater sea) by early French discoverers in 1612. Its central location made it the hub of maritime trading when the first European settlements were established in the region. Lake Huron was generally labeled "Lac des Hurons" (Lake of the Huron Indians) on most early maps. A Sanson map in 1656 refers to the lake as Karegnondi.
[edit] By the Numbers
[edit] Areas of Concern [edit] Environmental Concerns[edit] Invasive Species[edit] Water Levels According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, Lake Huron's water level is down about 3 feet from 1997 and 20 inches from the 140-year average. Many experts point to a 1962 dredging project by the Army Corps of Engineers, in which portions of the St. Clair River were deepened by 20 feet. The river is the main outflow for both Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. The deepening channels have created a faster-moving river, and it is contended that these dredges, along with natural erosion, have caused the low water levels. Ironically, measures meant to improve the shipping situation on the Great Lakes have hampered it in the long run. The loss of an inch of water on the lakes translates to losses of about 250 tons of cargo on a large freighter. Check the National Data Buoy Center for updated information on water levels. [edit] ContaminantsConcentrations of contaminants are relatively low in Lake Huron. Sources include industrial and municipal discharges, spills, landfills, storm sewers, and agricultural runoff. With the exception of the [Saginaw Valley], both agriculture and industry are much less developed surrounding Lake Huron than Lake Michigan, thereby resulting in lower contaminants in Lake Huron fish. Still, pesticides and industrial by-products result in contaminated waters in the lake. The large surface area of Lake Huron, like the other Great Lakes, has made it particularly vulnerable to atmospheric deposition of contaminants. Lake Huron has a large surface area and relatively few local contaminant point sources. Loadings to Lake Huron from water sources are lowest of all the Great Lakes, but air sources are highest. [edit] Live-fire Training Exercises In January 2006, the U.S. Coast Guard began conducting live-fire training on the Great Lakes. In November, the Coast Guard plans on establishing 34 permanent "safety zones" throughout the lakes, including six on Lake Huron. Each zone is located 3-5 miles offshore and cover about 70 square miles. Commanders say the exercise are vital to protecting the nation's borders from outside threats. The 7.62 mm machine gun rounds used can travel more than two miles. Aside from the safety of recreational boaters, many environmental groups are worried about the possible effects of long-term accumulation of lead, zinc and other potential pollutants from ammunition to the water quality of Lake Huron. "It's turning the Great Lakes into a military zone. There's no justification to do this." -Mike Bradley, Mayor of Sarnia, Ontario. [edit] Coastal Wetlands Coastal wetlands are influenced by fluctuations in water levels of the lake. Due to random climatic variations over the spans of years, wetlands emerge along the coasts of Lake Huron. The roots of wetland plants act as natural buffers to cleanse surface and ground waters before entering the lake. Wetlands slow down the movement of sediments and thereby trap pollutants, including chemicals like nitrogen, phosphorous, and various pesticides. More than half of the fish species present in Lake Huron depend on coastal wetlands at some point in their life cycles, and many other species of animals rely on the wetlands for feeding and rearing their young. Interference with the natural cycles of the coastal wetlands will have drastic consequences for the Lake Huron ecosystem. Disturbances such as development, dredging, building shore protection, and the construction of roadways have already caused permanent damage to Lake Huron wetlands. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, only about 17,800 acres of Saginaw Bay's emergent coastal marsh vegetation remain of the 37,400 acres estimated to have existed prior to European settlement. [edit] Cities on Lake Huron
[edit] Shipwrecks [edit] See Also
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