Can you get sick swimming in Lake Michigan?

About Harmful Bacteria coli in the water along Lake Michigan's shoreline is a strong indication that the water was recently contaminated by sewage or animal fecal waste. These wastes may contain many types of harmful disease-causing organisms.



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Lake Michigan is generally clean and safe for swimming but it can become contaminated with harmful bacteria.

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Not only is this lake massive - spanning 307 miles in either direction - but its shores also run parallel, causing unique wave shapes. The shapes of these waves are what contribute to rip tides, which are one of the most dangerous things swimmers can encounter in the water.

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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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Lake Erie is the most polluted lake in Michigan and the fourth largest of the Great Lakes.
  • This aerial view reveals oil-contaminated water pollution being released into Lake Erie from the steel mills in Nanticoke. ...
  • Beavers have thick brown fur, short front legs, and big webbed back feet, making them good swimmers.


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Should you shower after swimming in Lake Michigan? Take a shower: Bathe yourself after swimming in a lake in order to maintain hygiene and stay clean. If bacteria has not entered your body, it may be actively resting on your skin, creating a rash or finding an open cut to infect.

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Before entering the water, talk with a lifeguard or beach patrol. No one will know the current water conditions better than they will. If you are at an unguarded beach, which most are, Steer Clear of the Pier, if one is present. Swim at least 100 yards away from the structure.

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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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Lake Superior is the world's largest freshwater lake by area (31,700 mi2 /82,100 km2). It is also the coldest and deepest of the Great Lakes, with a maximum depth of 406 meters (1,332 feet). By most measures, it is the healthiest of all the Great Lakes.

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Watershed's surface: 209,000 square kms. Lake Superior is the largest, cleanest, and wildest of all the Great Lakes.

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