Elk Lake (Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elk Lake |
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 Elk Lake
Location in Michigan
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| Location | Antrim / Grand Traverse counties, Michigan, US |
| Coordinates | 44°51′N 85°23′W / 44.850°N 85.383°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. depth | 192 ft (59 m) |
| Surface elevation | 587 feet (179 m) |
Elk Lake is a large, beautiful lake in Northern Michigan, USA. It is located in both Antrim and Grand Traverse counties. The lake is known for its very clear, blue waters, similar to the famous Torch Lake nearby. It is a popular spot for fishing and enjoying outdoor activities.
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Exploring Elk Lake: Size, Depth, and Fish
Elk Lake is quite big! It is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) wide and 9 miles (14 km) long. Its deepest point is 192 ft (59 m). This makes Elk Lake the second deepest lake in Michigan. Only Torch Lake is deeper.
What Fish Live in Elk Lake?
Elk Lake is a fantastic place for fishing. Many different types of fish live in its waters. You can find fish like lake trout, rock bass, and yellow perch. Other popular fish include smallmouth bass, muskellunge, and ciscoes. You might also catch brown trout, rainbow trout, and whitefish.
The Amazing Chain of Lakes
Elk Lake is part of a larger system of connected lakes and rivers. This system is often called the Chain of Lakes. It is a very important watershed in Northern Michigan. A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a common body of water.
How the Chain of Lakes Connects
The journey of the water starts in northern Antrim County. It begins with Intermediate Lake. Water flows from there into the Intermediate River. This river then connects to Lake Bellaire.
From Lake Bellaire, the Grass River flows into Clam Lake. Clam Lake then drains into Torch Lake through the short Clam River. Torch Lake is drained by the Torch River. This river flows into Lake Skegemog. Finally, Lake Skegemog opens up into Elk Lake.
Where Elk Lake's Water Goes
After all these connections, the water from Elk Lake flows out. It travels through the Elk River. This river eventually reaches the east arm of Grand Traverse Bay. This bay is part of Lake Michigan, one of the Great Lakes.
The 45th Parallel North
Near Elk Lake, you can find a special sign. This sign marks the 45th parallel north. This imaginary line is halfway between the North Pole and the Equator. It is a cool spot to visit and learn about geography. Michigan has six known locations where this parallel is marked. There are 29 such places across the entire United States.
