Lake Michigan: Quick Facts

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Nov. 10, 2026

News •

Coast Guard rescues sailboater after vessel loses power in Lake Michigan • Nov. 9, 2026, 10:19 AM ET (CBS)

New Indiana septic rules are challenging for Lake Michigan towns • Oct. 31, 2026, 6:01 PM ET (Chicago Tribune)

Cuts in chinook stocking on the way for Lake Michigan in 2027 | Paul A. Smith • Oct. 29, 2026, 12:01 PM ET (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Northwestern University student dies after being pulled from Lake Michigan • Oct. 21, 2026, 5:41 PM ET (CBS)

Body recovered from Lake Michigan in Evanston near Northwestern University campus • Oct. 21, 2026, 12:10 PM ET (CBS)

Photos and Videos

Detailed map of Lake Michigan and its surrounding region in the United States, showing the lake's depth contours, nearby cities such as Chicago, Milwaukee, and Traverse City, and major bays, islands, and connecting waterways. State boundaries for Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan are marked, with a location inset map at the bottom right.

Indiana Dunes State Park

Map highlighting Lake Michigan among the five Great Lakes of North America, showing its location bordered by the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, with neighboring states and Canadian provinces labeled for geographic context.

Indiana Dunes State Park

Door Peninsula: Ephraim

Milwaukee, Wisconsin skyline viewed from Lake Michigan, featuring modern high-rise buildings and the distinctive Milwaukee Art Museum with its wing-like structure in the foreground.

Sand dunes on the shore of Lake Michigan

Detailed street map of the Chicago Loop and surrounding downtown districts, showing major streets, railroads, parks, Lake Michigan shoreline, and numbered points of interest such as museums, buildings, and landmarks. Districts like the Gold Coast, Printer's Row, and Streeterville are labeled, with Grant Park and Millennium Park prominently featured along the lakefront.

Map showing the Great Lakes-Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario-along with their surrounding drainage basin, depth variations indicated by shading, and major nearby cities in both the United States and Canada. State, provincial, and international boundaries are marked, and a small locator globe at the bottom left highlights the region's position in North America.

The video thumbnail image shows a black and white bridge over blue water. Blue arrows show that the flow of the water was switched from one direction to the other.

Monarch Butterfly Migration Explained

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Topics

Great Lakes Lake Tahoe Salton Sea Crater Lake Lake Superior Great Salt Lake Lake Erie Lake Ontario / Lake America Lake Mead Lake Champlain

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