Why is the water in Lake Huron so blue?

The blue in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron is sediment brought to the surface when strong winds churned the lakes. The green in Lake Erie and in Lake Huron's Saginaw Bay is algae, which builds on the surface when winds are calm.



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It gets more complicated when there are suspended solids in the water. The solids reflect light, making the color of the lake seem greenish or murky. Lake Michigan looks bluer than it did in the past. Clearer, bluer water is a sign that something is removing phytoplankton, which includes a form of green algae.

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1. Lake Huron. Lake Huron is a large lake that is connected to Lake Michigan. This Great Lake is known for having less algae-laden water than many other Michigan lakes, along with numerous clean beaches.

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The quality of Lake Huron water can change dramatically day to day, hour to hour, or even minute to minute with either heavy rainfall, high wave action, or both. The water may have high levels of bacteria that could increase the risk of skin, eye, ear, nose and throat infections or gastrointestinal illness.

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The first two questions involve if you can swim in Lake Huron and if it's clean to swim in. The short answer for both is “Yes.” However, it's safest when you can still see your feet at knee-deep water level. If the bottom sediment is stirred up too much, the level of E. coli could be too high for swimming.

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Chemical contamination, non-native invasive species, habitat loss, poor coastal health, and aquatic food web changes are the greatest threats to the Lake Huron ecosystem. Fathom Five National Park, Canada. Photo: Environment Canada.

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Lake Michigan: No more than 1 MI serving per month. Portage Lake in Houghton County: No more than 2 MI servings per month. Gull Lake in Kalamazoo County: No more than 2 MI servings per month. Higgins Lake in Roscommon County: No more than 4 MI servings per month.

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Pathogens wash off the land from wild animal, farm animal and pet waste, and can also enter the lake from improperly functioning septic systems, leaky sewer lines and boat sanitary disposal systems.

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With the longest shoreline of all of the Great Lakes, Lake Huron is one of the most unique lakes on Earth. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes, and the fourth largest lake in the world by surface area. Huron is renowned for its beaches, sand dunes, wetlands, forests, and extensive river systems.

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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 Pukaki, New Zealand This silt absorbs purple and indigo wavelengths, and the water absorbs red, orange, and yellow, leaving the dazzling blue-green water that allures hikers, bikers, and lakeside strollers.

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Lake Huron, the second-largest of the Great Lakes, tops the list for its pristine turquoise waters, unparalleled shoreline sunrises, numerous lakeside parks, gorgeous beaches, and historic lighthouses. French explorers proclaimed it La Mer Douce, “the freshwater sea.” What's more, Lake Huron is home to 30,000 islands!

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Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the easterly portion of Lake Michigan–Huron, having the same surface elevation as Lake Michigan, to which it is connected by the 5-mile-wide, 20-fathom-deep Straits of Mackinac.



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