Torch Lake (Houghton County, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Torch Lake |
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 Torch Lake
Location in Michigan
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| Location | Osceola Township, Houghton County, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 47°09′30″N 88°25′30″W / 47.15833°N 88.42500°W |
| Primary inflows | Traprock River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 6 mi (9.7 km) |
| Max. width | 1.5 mi (2.4 km) |
| Surface area | 2,659 acres (11 km2) |
| Max. depth | 120 ft (37 m) |
| Surface elevation | 600 feet (180 m) |
| Settlements | Lake Linden |
Torch Lake is a beautiful lake located in Houghton County, Michigan in the United States. It covers about 2,700 acres (11 square kilometers). Most of the lake is in Torch Lake Township. Parts of it also reach into Osceola and Schoolcraft townships. The Traprock River flows into Torch Lake, keeping it full.
Contents
Discovering Torch Lake
Torch Lake is a long, narrow lake. It is about 6 miles (9.7 kilometers) long. At its widest point, it measures about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers). The lake is also quite deep. Its deepest spot goes down about 120 feet (37 meters).
Lake Location and Connections
Torch Lake is located about 5 miles (8 kilometers) east of Houghton, Michigan. It is easy to find on a map at coordinates 47°09′N 88°25′W. A natural channel flows from the southern end of Torch Lake. This channel leads into Torch Bay. Torch Bay then connects to Portage Lake. This connection allows water to flow between these important Michigan waterways.
A Look at History and the Environment
The village of Lake Linden sits at the northern end of Torch Lake. This village was once home to a very large copper processing plant. It was the biggest in North America.
Copper Mining's Impact
For many years, this plant processed copper. A lot of leftover material, called "stamp sands," was dumped into Torch Lake. These stamp sands are tiny pieces of rock left after copper is removed. About 200 million tons of these sands ended up in the lake. This filled up about 20 percent of the lake's total volume.
Protecting the Lake Today
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has studied Torch Lake. They found that in some areas, the contaminated sediments are about 70 feet (21 meters) thick. These sediments contain copper. Efforts are now being made to clean up and protect Torch Lake. This helps keep the lake healthy for everyone.
