Lake Allegan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lake Allegan
Lake Allegan Location in Michigan
Location	Allegan County, Michigan
Coordinates	42°33′N 85°56′W / 42.550°N 85.933°W / 42.550; -85.933
Primary inflows	Kalamazoo River
Primary outflows	Lake Michigan
Basin countries	United States
Max. length	6 mi (9.7 km)
Max. width	1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Surface area	2.5 sq mi (6.5 km2)
Average depth	15 ft (4.6 m)
Surface elevation	600 ft (180 m)
Islands	Eagle Island
Settlements	Allegan, MI

Lake Allegan is a special lake in Michigan, USA. It's not a natural lake; people created it! It's located near the city of Allegan in Allegan County. This lake is a great spot for swimming and boating. It's quite big, covering almost 1,600 acres.

About Lake Allegan

Lake Allegan was formed by people, which means it's a "man-made" lake. It's found in Valley Township, just outside the city of Allegan. The water here is safe for swimming and enjoying boat rides.

The Kalamazoo River flows into Lake Allegan. Then, the water continues its journey out of Lake Allegan towards Lake Michigan. This happens near a place called Saugatuck.

Nature and Wildlife

Lake Allegan is right next to the huge Allegan Forest. This forest is about 50,000 acres! Because of this, many amazing animals visit the lake.

You might see geese and ducks swimming on the water. Look closely, and you might spot a kingfisher diving for fish. Majestic eagles and tall great blue herons are also frequent visitors.

If you want a great view of the lake, check out the Allegan Lake Overlook. It's on Monroe Road, about two and a half miles from M-89. There's also a special spot called Echo Point on Monroe Road near 42nd Street. This is where you can launch a boat into the lake.

History of the Lake Area

On the west side of Lake Allegan, you can still find the old building foundations of a historic camp. This camp was used during World War II. It was part of the Allegan State Game Area. The camp was in use until the war ended.

The Calkins Bridge Dam

The Calkins Bridge Dam plays a very important role for Lake Allegan. It helps keep the lake's water levels steady and predictable. This means the lake doesn't get too high or too low very often.

The Kalamazoo River flows into Lake Allegan and then goes through the Calkins Bridge Dam. From there, the water continues its path to Lake Michigan. The dam also helps create electricity for the area. This is why it's sometimes called the Allegan Hydroelectric Plant.

The Calkins Bridge Dam is a popular place for fishing, especially in the spring and fall. This is when many fish are spawning, which means they are laying their eggs. The dam is owned and operated by Consumers Energy.