Crooked Lake (Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crooked Lake |
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 Crooked Lake
Location in Michigan
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| Location | Emmet County, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 45°24′40″N 84°49′41″W / 45.411°N 84.828°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 594 feet (181 m) |
Crooked Lake is a beautiful lake located in Emmet County, Michigan in the U.S. state of Michigan. It's a very important part of a special water path called the Inland Waterway. This waterway lets boats travel from Crooked Lake all the way to Lake Huron!
About Crooked Lake
Crooked Lake is the starting point of the Crooked River. This river then flows into the larger Inland Waterway. The lake is the most southwestern part of this fun water route. To help boats move between different water levels, the waterway uses special gates called locks. The water flowing out of Crooked Lake is controlled by the Alanson Waterway Locks, which are near the town of Alanson, Michigan.
How Crooked Lake Was Formed
Crooked Lake was formed a very long time ago, after the last great ice age. It's what's left of a much larger ancient lake called Lake Nipissing. The lake has a wiggly, interesting shape. This is because giant glaciers carved out the land as they moved. They left behind hills made of rock and dirt called moraines. They also dug out deep holes called kettles. When the ice melted, these holes and valleys filled with water, creating Crooked Lake's unique shape.
Life Around the Lake
Many years ago, three small towns grew up around Crooked Lake: Conway, Oden, and Ponshewaing. These towns were important because they had train stations for the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad. Trains brought people and visitors to the lake, making it a popular spot.
Today, you can drive along the north shore of the lake on U.S. Highway 31. There are many homes and businesses built close together along the road and the lake. It's still a very popular place for people to live and visit.
