Are the Great Lakes swimmable?

While the ocean waters are incredible, nothing compares to a swim in these fresh, wave-filled inland seas. Yes, the Great Lakes have waves! Not as intense as ocean waves with the added bonus of no sharks or jellyfish. The region also boasts some incredible sandy and rocky beaches to relax on after a dip.



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Lake Michigan in particular is the roughest of the Great Lakes, and poses a major risk to those thinking of taking a dip.

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Erie is the most southerly, shallow, and biologically diverse of all of the Great Lakes. Its shallow depth makes it the warmest Great Lake and a favourite destination for summer recreationists and migrating birds.

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While there have been past “sightings,” most have turned out to be pranks or misidentifications. The reality is that the largest of the Great Lakes (Lake Superior and Michigan) are extremely deep lakes that are too cold for sharks.

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The Great Lakes are more than capable of generating waves over 10 feet high, despite being smaller than our oceans. This lack in size actually increases the danger over the water. This is because the wave period in the Great Lakes (the time between two wave crests) is much shorter than in the ocean.

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Primarily because of their location - north. They are subjected to cold and cooler weather longer than they are warm weather. Their 'warmest' temps are over a relatively short time during the summer before cooler and colder weather begins to occur. They are big and they don't have time to warm up.

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Lake Erie is the fourth-largest lake in North America (by surface area) and the eleventh-largest worldwide. It is the Great Lakes' southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume. By the 1960s, Lake Erie had become the most polluted of the Great Lakes, owing to the substantial industrial presence along its coasts.

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Alligators are rarely found in the Great Lakes. Although some alligators thrive in freshwater, it's just too cold in the north for them to survive. They don't typically live farther north than North Carolina.

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Lake Michigan's riptide and longshore tides are unparalleled when it comes to danger among all the Great Lakes. In fact, due to its unnaturally strong winds, it's not unusual for this lake to have strong rip currents that can be dangerous for swimmers.

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Lake Superior is the Cleanest and Clearest Great Lake Because of its somewhat isolated location and long cold winters, not much farming is done along Superior's shores. This means lower amounts of nutrients, sediments, and organic material are floating around the lake.

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The Great Lakes have been known to generate waves more than 25 feet high – capable of sinking a 500-foot freighter. Furious storms can come quickly and without warning. It is recommended that you check with lifeguards before entering the water – to make sure the currents aren't dangerous.

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Benjamin said that draw to beaches and structures, paired with the strength of Lake Michigan's waves and currents, make a deadly combination. “There are always hazards with water, in any body of water” Benjamin said.

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If you live in Michigan it probably won't come as a shock to you that Lake Superior is the coldest lake in the United States.

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Lake Erie averages the highest ice cover Of the five Great Lakes, Lake Erie typically reaches the highest annual maximum ice cover, often exceeding 80 percent.

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Threats to the Great Lakes' ecosystems, include invasive species, climate change, pollution, and habitat destruction. Climate change affects water temperatures, weather patterns, and lake levels.

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At the deepest measured point, Lake Superior is 1,332 feet, around a quarter-mile straight down. Again, comparing it to the next deepest point in another Great Lake, Lake Michigan comes in second with a depth of 925 feet.

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Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes by surface area and volume. It is like a mini-freshwater ocean, you can't even see the other side from the Wisconsin shoreline.

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The Great Lakes may not have tides, but they can still experience strong currents. Terms like “rip currents,” “rip tides,” and “undertows” are often used to describe different types of hazards in the Great Lakes. However, the most accurate term for them is “dangerous currents.”

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The most dangerous predator in the Great Lakes is the sea lamprey, which was actually introduced as an invasive species. Primarily, it goes after a sports fish called the lake trout, often wounding them as they kill them off. It is also attracted to the blood and bodily fluids of any creature.

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Lake sturgeons are the biggest fish in the Great Lakes.

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Lake Nicaragua is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the Americas and bull sharks travel up the San Juan River and through a series of eight rapids in a similar manner to salmon to reach the lake, where they may stay for several years.

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