Lake Michigan–Huron
Combined lake system in North America / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Lake Michigan–Huron (also Huron–Michigan) is the body of water combining Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, which are joined through the 5-mile-wide (8.0 km), 295-foot-deep (90 m), open-water Straits of Mackinac. Huron and Michigan are hydrologically a single lake because the flow of water through the straits keeps their water levels in overall equilibrium. Although the flow is generally eastward, the water moves in either direction depending on local conditions. Combined, Lake Michigan–Huron is the largest freshwater lake by area in the world.[1][3][4][5] Lake Superior is larger than either individually, so it is counted as the largest of the Great Lakes when Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are considered separately.
Lake Michigan–Huron | |
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Location | United States, Canada |
Group | Great Lakes |
Coordinates | 45.814°N 84.754°W / 45.814; -84.754 |
Lake type | Glacial |
Primary inflows | St. Marys River |
Primary outflows | St. Clair River |
Basin countries | United States, Canada |
Surface area | 45,300 sq mi (117,300 km2)[1] |
Max. depth | 925 ft (282 m) |
Water volume | 2,029 cu mi (8,460 km3) |
Residence time | 100 years |
Shore length1 | 3,250 mi (5,230 km) plus 2,215 mi (3,565 km) for islands[2] |
Surface elevation | 577 ft (176 m) |
Settlements | Milwaukee, Chicago, Sarnia, Owen Sound, Cheboygan, Sheboygan, Port Huron, Traverse City |
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. |