Siskiwit Lake (Isle Royale) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Siskiwit Lake |
|
---|---|
Isle Royale. Siskiwit Lake is the dark patch in the center
|
|
Location | Isle Royale |
Coordinates | 48°00′05″N 088°47′50″W / 48.00139°N 88.79722°W |
Primary outflows | Siskiwit River |
Basin countries | United States |
Surface area | 4,150 acres (16.8 km2) |
Surface elevation | 646 ft (197 m) |
Islands | Ryan |
Siskiwit Lake is the biggest lake on Isle Royale. This island is located in Lake Superior. The lake covers about 4,150 acres (16.8 km2) of land. Its water is very cold and clear. It also has very few nutrients. The Little Siskiwit River flows into the lake. The Siskiwit River flows out of the lake and into Lake Superior.
Exploring Siskiwit Lake
Fishing Fun
Siskiwit Lake is a great place to go fishing. But there are some rules to follow. You cannot use motorboats on the lake. Also, you cannot use live bait.
You can find several types of fish in the lake. These include Lake Trout, Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Yellow Perch.
Scientists studied the fish in 2004. They looked at levels of a chemical called toxaphene. They found that trout in Siskiwit Lake had less of this chemical. This was compared to trout in Lake Superior. This might be because the food chain in Siskiwit Lake is shorter. The fish there might also eat more tiny water creatures called zooplankton.
Islands and Wildlife
Siskiwit Lake has several small land areas called lake islands. Some of these islands are Eagle Nest Island, Teakettle Island, Lost and Found Island, and Ryan Island.
You can often see Common loons on these islands. Loons are birds known for their unique calls. They build their nests and raise their young on some of these islands.
The Moose Boulder Story
Siskiwit Lake and Ryan Island were once part of a famous story. It was about something called the "Moose Boulder." This story claimed there was a huge rock. It was supposedly in a small, seasonal pond on Ryan Island. This pond was called Moose Flats.
If this story were true, Moose Boulder would have been very special. It would have been the largest known island in a lake on an island in a lake on an island in a lake. Imagine that! An island on a lake, which is on an island, which is on a lake, which is on an island! However, in 2020, it was reported that the Moose Boulder was just a hoax. A hoax means it was a trick or a made-up story.