Long Lake (Indiana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Long Lake |
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 Long Lake
Location in Indiana
Long Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Porter County, Indiana |
| Coordinates | 41°36′55″N 87°12′43″W / 41.61528°N 87.21194°W |
| Type | lake |
| Surface elevation | 604 feet (184 m) |
Long Lake is a large wetland located in the Indiana Dunes National Park in Northwest Indiana. A wetland is a special area where the land is covered by water, either all the time or just part of the year.
This lake used to be about 8 miles (13 kilometers) long. But over time, it became shorter. This happened because of new buildings and projects that drained some of its water. Today, Long Lake covers about 34 hectares (84 acres). Its deepest point is about 1.8 meters (6 feet). The lake has three small islands. Its total shoreline, which is the edge of the lake, is 4.6 kilometers (2.9 miles) long.
Long Lake is split into two parts by a main road called County Line Road. The eastern part of the lake is in Porter County. This part is in the town of Ogden Dunes. The western part is in Lake County. This area is part of the Miller Beach community. Most of Long Lake is inside the Indiana Dunes National Park. However, a small area on the eastern side is used by the American Water company. They have a plant there that cleans water.
Along the southern side of the lake, you can find several transportation routes. The Norfolk Southern railway, the South Shore Line railway, and the U.S. Route 12 highway all run next to each other. The north side of Long Lake used to have the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad. Now, this old railway path is a multi-use trail. It is called the Marquette Trail and Long Lake Trail. People use these trails for biking, hiking, and watching birds.
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History of Long Lake
Long Lake has a rich history, especially when it comes to protecting nature.
Early Conservation Efforts
Long Lake was a key area for early conservation efforts. A famous person known as Diana of the Dunes worked to protect this area. Many other people also joined in. They all wanted to save the beautiful Indiana Dunes region.
Life in the 19th Century
In the 1800s, Long Lake was very important for the people living in the small town of Miller. This town later became Miller Beach. They would harvest ice from the lake during winter. This ice was then shipped to markets by train. The frozen lake also provided a fun place for ice-skating. People could skate between Miller and Baillytown.
In the early 1900s, fishing was also popular on the lake. There were more types of fish back then. These included largemouth bass and yellow perch.
Changes to the Lake
In the 1920s, County Line Road was built. This road cut Long Lake into two separate parts. The western part became separated from the larger, deeper eastern part. There is no pipe or tunnel connecting the two halves. Because of this, the western part sometimes dries out in summer. When this happens, fish and many water plants can die.
Plants and Animals of Long Lake
Long Lake is home to many different kinds of plants and animals.
Plant Life
The edges of the western part of Long Lake are mostly covered by cattail plants. These are tall, reed-like plants often found in wetlands. The eastern part of the lake has a wider variety of plants. In the summer, the open water of the lake is almost completely covered. You can see beautiful pond lilies and water lilies floating on the surface.
Fish Species
Sometimes, many fish in the lake die. This happened in 1990 and 2000. These events have reduced the number of different fish species in the lake. Recent studies have found several types of fish. These include green sunfish, bluegill, black bullhead, golden shiner, common carp, and fathead minnow.
Amphibians and Reptiles
Many amphibians live in and around Long Lake. These include the tiger salamander, blue-spotted salamander, chorus frog, spring peeper, American toad, Fowler's toad, green frog, and bullfrog.
Reptiles also make their home here. You might see a snapping turtle, common musk turtle, painted turtle, or a common garter snake. Other snakes found are the racer and the Eastern hognose snake. The six-lined racerunner lizard is also present. There has been a possible sighting of the rare Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake near the lake. The slender glass lizard can also be found nearby.
Bird Watching
Long Lake is a very popular spot for birds that are migrating. Migrating birds are those that travel long distances between their breeding and wintering grounds. Many warblers, which are small, colorful birds, nest in the nearby forests. They often look for food along the lake's shoreline.
- Garza, Eric L.; Nevers, Meredith B.; Whitman, Richard L. (2002). Ecological Characterization of Long Lake, Porter and Lake Counties, Indiana. http://www.glsc.usgs.gov/_files/reports/LongLakeReport.pdf.
