Lake Oakland (Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Oakland |
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Location | Oakland County, Michigan |
Coordinates | 42°42′01″N 83°21′28″W / 42.700356°N 83.357751°W |
Basin countries | United States |
Surface area | 255 acres (103 ha) |
Max. depth | 64 ft (20 m) |
Surface elevation | 955 feet (291 m) |
Islands | Bird Island |
Settlements | Waterford Township and Independence Township |
Lake Oakland is a beautiful lake located in the middle of Oakland County, Michigan. It covers about 255 acres, which is like 190 football fields! This lake is shared by two towns: Waterford Township and Independence Township.
Exploring Lake Oakland's Depths
Lake Oakland has different parts, some deeper than others. It has several deep spots, called basins. The deepest part of the lake goes down 64 feet. That's as tall as a six-story building! Other basins are 25 feet and 27 feet deep. These deep areas have steep sides.
The lake also has many shallow areas. These are called bays and are less than five feet deep. You can also find a few small islands on the lake. One of these is called Bird Island.
Lake Oakland's History and Connections
Lake Oakland was once known by a different name: Pond Lake. It is an important part of the Clinton River system. The Clinton River flows into Lake Oakland from the west. It connects to Woodhull Lake, which is just upstream.
The Clinton River also flows out of Lake Oakland. It leaves the lake from the southeast side. There are two dams there that help control the water level. Lake Oakland and Woodhull Lake both have a specific water level that is kept stable.
After leaving Lake Oakland, the Clinton River continues its journey. It flows into Schoolhouse Lake and Loon Lake. Lake Oakland is also connected to a smaller lake called Leggets Lake. This connection is short and shallow. Leggets Lake is about 25 acres in size and is 10 feet deep.