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Lake Michigan

map of Lake MichiganLake Michigan, by volume, is the second largest Great Lake and the only one located wholly within the United States. The northern part is in the colder, less-developed upper Great Lakes region. It is sparsely populated, except for the Fox River Valley, and is primarily covered with mixed wood forest. The more temperate southern basin of Lake Michigan is the most urbanized area in the Great Lakes system; it contains the Milwaukee and Chicago metropolitan areas.

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About Lake Michigan

  • the second largest
  • the only Great Lake entirely within the United States
  • variable climate, population density and development
  • northern part: colder, less developed, sparsely populated
  • southern basin: more temperate, among the most urbanized areas in the Great Lakes system.
  • 20% of the total population of the Great Lakes basin
  • Green Bay has one of the most productive Great Lakes fisheries but receives the wastes from the world's largest concentration of pulp and paper mills

NOAA Image Measurement of Depth of Water in Lake Michigan 

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