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Lotus Lake (Michigan) facts for kids

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Lotus Lake
Location of the lake in Michigan.
Location of the lake in Michigan.
Lotus Lake
Location in Michigan
Location Oakland County, Michigan
Coordinates 42°41′37″N 83°25′20″W / 42.693743°N 83.422343°W / 42.693743; -83.422343
Basin countries United States
Surface area 185 acres (75 ha)
Max. depth 65 ft (20 m)
Islands one
Settlements Waterford Township and Independence Township

Lotus Lake is a fun, "all-sports" lake located in Oakland County, Michigan. It covers about 185 acres and is part of the Clinton River system. Most of the lake is in Waterford Township, but its northern part reaches into Independence Township.

Lotus Lake is connected to other lakes. To the north, it links up with the larger 234-acre Maceday Lake. Upstream, it connects to the smaller 12-acre Lester Lake. If you want to boat from Lotus Lake to Lester Lake, you have to go through a narrow tunnel under some railroad tracks.

Between Lotus Lake and Maceday Lake, you'll find Blain Island. You can drive to this island using a bridge. The island has three smaller bridges, which locals have playfully named Lloyd, Beau, and Jeff. Many fancy homes are built on Blain Island. Boaters can easily get to Lotus Lake from a public boat launch on Maceday Lake.

What's in a Name?

Lotus Lake gets its name from the beautiful Lotus flower. This flower is a type of water lily. You can often spot these lovely flowers growing among the lily pads on the lake's surface.

A Popular Vacation Spot

Long ago, Lotus Lake became a popular place for summer vacations. In 1851, the Detroit and Milwaukee Railway built train tracks through Waterford Township. This made it easy for people from big cities like Detroit and Lansing to visit the lakes.

The Windiate train station, along with others in nearby towns, helped turn this area into a resort destination. From the 1890s to the 1940s, a place called the Windiate Park Hotel was a favorite summer resort. It was right on Lotus Lake, close to the Windiate train station. During summer, four trains a day would bring visitors! The resort offered lots of fun activities like boating, fishing, sailing, sunbathing, and tennis. It even had a dance hall!

Fish You Can Find

Lotus Lake is a great spot for fishing! The lake is home to several types of fish, including:

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