Lamberton Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lamberton Lake |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Lamberton Lake
Location in Michigan
|
|
| Location | Kent County, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 43°01′N 85°38′W / 43.02°N 85.63°W |
| Primary inflows | Lamberton Creek |
| Primary outflows | Lamberton Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | appx. 1,700 ft (520 m) |
| Max. width | appx. 1,040 ft (320 m) |
| Surface area | 28.5 acres (115,000 m2) |
| Max. depth | 15 ft (4.6 m) |
| Surface elevation | 656 ft (200 m) |
| Settlements | Grand Rapids |
Lamberton Lake is a freshwater lake in Kent County, Michigan. It covers about 28.5-acre (115,000 m2) of water. The lake is located in Western Michigan.
It is approximately 1,700 feet (520 m) long and 1,040 feet (320 m) wide. Lamberton Lake is found in the northeast part of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Its surface is about 650 feet (200 m) above sea level. Most of the lake is less than 15 feet (4.6 m) deep. There is a small island in the northwest part of the lake. It is about 160 feet (49 m) long and 70 feet (21 m) wide. A low hill runs along the east side of the lake, looking over it.
How Water Flows In and Out
Lamberton Lake gets its water from Lamberton Creek. This creek flows from Emerald Lake and enters Lamberton Lake in the northeast. Two natural springs also add water to the lake.
Water leaves Lamberton Lake through Lamberton Creek at the southeast side. Lamberton Creek then flows south, turns west, and eventually joins the Grand River.
Nature Around the Lake
The bottom of Lamberton Lake is mostly made of a soft, chalky material called marl. In the deeper parts, you'll find a spongy, dark material called peat.
Near the lake, there's a special area called the Lamberton Lake Fen Nature Preserve. This preserve covers 24 acres and is managed by the Land Conservancy of West Michigan. It was created in 1994 and made larger ten years later.
Lamberton Creek flows from the lake through the preserve's southeast section. This is where the fen is located. A fen is a type of wetland that gets its water from groundwater. Many different kinds of native plants and animals live in this fen.
In the past, the wet areas around the lake were much bigger. However, by 1901, a lot of this land had been drained. This happened because the creek was made deeper, which lowered the lake's water level.
Lake History
In the late 1800s, people thought about using Lamberton Lake and Lamberton Creek as a source of drinking water. This was when the city of Grand Rapids was growing and needed more water.
