Can deep lakes freeze?

Some very deep lakes never freeze because the entire depth of the lake does not cool down to the magic temperature. Most Maine lakes are shal- low enough and winter is long and cold enough, so that they freeze over. During some really cold winters, some lake ice can be as much as six feet thick!



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Most lakes and ponds don't completely freeze because the ice (and eventually snow) on the surface acts to insulate the water below. Our winters aren't long or cold enough to completely freeze most local water bodies. This process of lakes turning over is crtically important to the life in the lake.

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Lakes don't freeze all the way to the bottom. Any body of water that freezes all the way to the bottom is called a “puddle” and they typically don't have fish in them. Even in a place that is really, really, REALLY COLD, a lake is only going to have ice on it that is about 2ft to 3ft thick.

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Moving water tends to hold heat longer. Large, deep lakes freeze later than do small, shallow ponds. The salty ocean freezes later than do freshwater lakes.

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Ice thickness can vary over a single body of water; it may be a foot thick in one location and only an inch or two a few feet away.

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Great Lakes that have completely frozen include Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake to have never frozen entirely.

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Health risks Winter swimming can be dangerous to people who are not used to swimming in very cold water. After immersion in cold water the cold shock response will occur, causing an uncontrollable gasp for air. This is followed by hyperventilation, a longer period of more rapid breathing.

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In water that is around the freezing point, a person is likely to survive only 15 to 45 minutes with flotation and possibly up to an hour or so with flotation and protective gear before the brain and heart stop (Table 1). The surface temperature of Lake Superior in early to mid-summer is about 40 to 50 F.

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AIce floats on a lake's surface until it is melted. Although it sometimes floats low in the water, it does not sink to the bottom, as some mistakenly believe. Water is heaviest at 39 degrees, lighter at higher or lower temperatures.

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Do fish die in frozen lakes or in lakes that are partially frozen? Since fish are cold-blooded animals, they can survive because they are able to regulate their body temperature to match their environment. However, they could die if a body of water freezes over completely and remains frozen for an extended period.

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Some species, like koi and gobies, may burrow into soft sediments and go dormant like frogs and other amphibians, but most fish simply school in the deepest pools and take a winter rest. In this resting state, fishes' hearts slow down, their needs for food and oxygen decrease, and they move about very little.

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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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Ice formed over flowing water and currents is often dangerous. This is especially true near streams, bridges, and culverts. Also, the ice on outside river bends, and inlets and outlets of lakes and ponds is usually weaker due to the undermining effects of the faster current.

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The sudden gasp and rapid breathing alone creates a greater risk of drowning even for confident swimmers in calm waters. In rougher open water this danger increases. Unplanned immersion in cold water can be life-threatening for anyone without protection from the temperatures or a lifejacket to help you stay afloat.

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