Lake George (Hammond, Indiana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake George |
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 Lake George
Location in Indiana
Lake George
Location in the United States
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| Location | Hammond, Lake County, Indiana |
| Coordinates | 41°40′10″N 87°30′10″W / 41.66944°N 87.50278°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Managing agency | Hammond Port Authority |
| Surface area | 148 acres (60 ha) |
| Average depth | 1.8 ft (0.55 m) (north basin) 2.2 ft (0.67 m) (south basin) |
| Max. depth | 4 ft (1.2 m) (north basin) 3.5 ft (1.1 m) (south basin) |
| Surface elevation | 584 ft (178 m) |
Lake George is a cool lake located in Hammond, Indiana, in the United States. It's a great spot for outdoor fun and learning about nature.
It's found in the very northwest part of Indiana. This area is part of the larger Chicago region. Lake George sits between Wolf Lake to its west and the much larger Lake Michigan to its east.
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About Lake George
Lake George is split into two main parts: a north basin and a south basin. These two parts are divided by the Lake George Trail. This trail is a green pathway about 3.1 miles long, perfect for walking or biking.
The lake covers about 148 acres. It's quite shallow, with the deepest parts being around 4 feet in the north basin and 3.5 feet in the south basin. Calumet College of St. Joseph is located right on the eastern shore of the lake.
How Lake George Changed Over Time
A long time ago, before many buildings were here, the area around Lake George was full of wetlands. These were swampy areas with slow-moving rivers and shallow lakes.
In the 1900s, people started to develop the region. Some parts of these wetlands were filled in. They used waste materials from steel factories, called slag, and dirt dug up from the Calumet River system. Because of this, Lake George lost about half of its original size. It also became much shallower than it used to be.
Helping Nature at Lake George
In the 1990s, scientists studied Lake George. They found that many native plants were being taken over by invasive plants. One of these was a tall grass called phragmites. These non-native plants were choking out the plants that naturally belonged there.
To fix this, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources started a big project in the 2010s. Their goal was to remove the invasive plants. They also wanted to restore the larger Grand Calumet River area around the lake. This would make it a better place for birds to nest and find food.
The restoration work involves a few steps. First, they use special sprays to kill the invasive plants. After that, they plant seeds of native plants back into the area. This helps the lake's natural environment become healthy again.
Fun Things to Do at Lake George
The city of Hammond has been working to make Lake George a fun place for everyone. They work with the Hammond Port Authority to add new features.
They have added beaches where you can relax and enjoy the water. There are also new hiking and biking trails. These trails are great for exploring the area and getting some exercise. The city has also improved places for fishing and boating. They want to make Hammond a popular spot for visitors and tourists.
