Muskegon Lake is a 4150 acres (16.8 km²) fresh-water lake

Lake

A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...

 in Muskegon County, Michigan

Michigan

Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....

, USA. Located in the lower peninsula at the mouth of the Muskegon River

Muskegon River

The Muskegon River is a river in the western portion of the lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The river has its headwaters in Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, flowing out of the North Bay into neighboring Missaukee County. From there it flows mostly southwest to Muskegon, Michigan,...

, Muskegon Lake forms a 12 square miles (31.1 km²) broad harbor along the eastern shoreline of Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...

, approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) wide by 5.5 miles (8.9 km) long.

Hydrology

The Muskegon River

Muskegon River

The Muskegon River is a river in the western portion of the lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The river has its headwaters in Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, flowing out of the North Bay into neighboring Missaukee County. From there it flows mostly southwest to Muskegon, Michigan,...

, Michigan's second-longest river, originating at Houghton Lake

Houghton Lake (Michigan)

Houghton Lake is a large lake in Roscommon County. The unincorporated community of Prudenville is at the southeastern end of the lake, while the unincorporated communities of Houghton Lake and Houghton Lake Heights are on the southwest and west shores...

 and flowing southwest for 227 miles (365.3 km), empties into Muskegon Lake at the eastern end before entering Lake Michigan. On the north, Bear Creek/Lake empties into the lake via the Bear Lake Channel and on the south, Ryerson Creek and Ruddiman Creek flow into Muskegon Lake.

History

Muskegon Lake played an important role in the early development of the city of Muskegon, as well as the logging industry in Michigan. Timber, particularly white pine, was harvested throughout central Michigan and floated downstream on the Muskegon River to the lake, which at one time boasted more than 47 sawmills along its banks.

Cities and parks

Cities located on Muskegon Lake include Muskegon, Michigan

Muskegon, Michigan

Muskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...

 and North Muskegon, Michigan

North Muskegon, Michigan

North Muskegon is a city in Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,031 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.1 square miles , of which, 1.8 square miles of it is land and 2.3 square miles of it is...

. Major parks located along Muskegon Lake include Muskegon State Park on the north at Lake Michigan, Heritage Landing in downtown Muskegon, and Pere Marquette Park on the south at Lake Michigan.

Transportation

Docks for the Lake Express Cross-Lake Ferry which provides ferry service across Lake Michigan between Muskegon, Michigan to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, are located on the southern shore of Muskegon Lake. Muskegon Lake sightseeing trips are also available aboard the Port City Princess.

Recreational activities

Several public and private marinas and boat launch facilities are located along the shores of Muskegon Lake and recreational sailing and boating are popular activities. Sport fishing is also popular on Muskegon Lake where King Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Brown Trout, Lake Trout and Perch are found. Other popular activities include camping, hiking, picnicking, ice boating, concerts and festivals.

Sources

• Yahoo! Education — Muskegon, river, United States
• Department of Natural Resources — Muskegon River Watershed Assessment
• NOAA nautical chart

External links

• NOAA Nautical chart of Muskegon Lake