Black Lake (Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black Lake |
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 Black Lake
Location in Michigan
Black Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Cheboygan County, Michigan, United States |
| Coordinates | 45°27′30″N 84°16′04″W / 45.4582°N 84.2679°W |
| Primary outflows | Black River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 10,130 acres (4,100 ha) |
| Max. depth | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Surface elevation | 610 feet (190 m) |
Black Lake is a large lake in northern Michigan, United States. It is located in Cheboygan and Presque Isle counties. Black Lake covers about 10,130 acres, making it the seventh largest inland lake in Michigan.
The lake is part of the Black River watershed. Its water flows through the Lower Black River and Cheboygan River into Lake Huron. Black Lake is a popular summer spot for many families. Visitors come from the Detroit area and other nearby states. The town of Onaway is also close by.
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Fun Things to Do at Black Lake
Onaway State Park
Onaway State Park is found at the southeastern end of Black Lake. This park is a great place for outdoor fun. You can go camping, swimming, and fishing there. The buildings at the park were built a long time ago. They were made during the Great Depression by a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps. This group helped people find jobs during a tough economic time. These historic buildings are now very important.
Local Places to Visit
Around Black Lake, you can find a few local businesses. These include the Black River Marina, The Bluffs Restaurant, and the 211 Outpost. Since the late 1960s, the United Auto Workers (UAW) Union has had a special center here. The UAW is a union for workers, especially in the car industry. Their center, called the Walter and May Reuther Family Education Center, is on what used to be a private estate.
Unique Sturgeon Fishing
Black Lake is famous for its very unusual fishing season. This special season is for catching lake sturgeon. It happens in the winter when the lake is frozen. People go ice fishing and use fishing spears to catch these large fish.
The sturgeon fishing season is very short and limited. Only six sturgeon can be caught in total each year. Each fish must be over 36 inches long. Every day, 25 anglers are chosen by a lottery to fish. They get a flag to raise when they catch a fish. When five flags have been raised, the season closes for the year. Sometimes, the entire season lasts only a few hours!
History of Black Lake
Early Times
In the early days, the area around Black Lake was important for two main things. These were lumbering, which is cutting down trees for wood, and mining. You can still see parts of an old limestone quarry on the south shore of the lake. A quarry is a place where stone is dug out of the ground.
Black Lake Association
The Black Lake Association was started in 1920. This group works hard to keep the lake's water clean. They also help to improve the fishing for walleye and sturgeon. The association keeps its members informed about environmental issues. These issues can affect their property and the lake itself. They also keep records of important facts about the lake.
2007 Tornado Impact
On October 17, 2007, a tornado hit the Black Lake area. This tornado was an EF1, which is a weaker type of tornado. It stayed on the ground for about 10 minutes. Luckily, no one was hurt or died. However, a barn and some land were partly damaged by the storm.
