Lake Huron is the second largest of the five Great Lakes of North America. It was named after the Huron Indians, who once lived in the area. In the 17th century this was the first Great Lake seen by European explorers.

Physical features

Lake Huron lies in east-central North America. The border between the United States and Canada passes through it. The state of Michigan is to the west, and the Canadian province of Ontario is to the north and east. The northeastern part of the lake has many islands, especially in Georgian Bay and the North Channel. The Straits of Mackinac connect Lake Huron with Lake Michigan in the northwest. To the southwest, Saginaw Bay cuts into the coast of Michigan.

The Lake Huron is 206 miles (331 kilometers) long and it is 101 miles (163 kilometers) wide at its widest place. It has an area of 23,000 square miles (59,570 square kilometers). Its deepest point is 750 feet (230 meters).

Water flows into Lake Huron from two main sources. The first is St. Marys River, which flows into Lake Huron from Lake Superior. The second is Lake Michigan, which is joined with Lake Huron by the Straits of Mackinac. Water flows through Lake Huron to the southern end, where it empties into Lake Erie.

Lake Huron and the other Great Lakes affect the climate of the regions around them. The lake absorbs large amounts of heat in the warmer months. That lowers the general temperature in the region. Then, during the colder months, the lake slowly releases the heat to the atmosphere. This raises air temperatures in the winter. Severe storms can occur over all the Great Lakes. They are especially dangerous in late fall and early winter.

Economy

Lumbering and fishing are important economic activities in the Lake Huron region. The St. Lawrence Seaway, which links the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean, has made international shipping a large part of the economy as well. Many products are shipped over the seaway. For instance, large amounts of limestone are loaded at Rockport and Rogers City, Michigan. Important harbors in Michigan are Cheboygan, Alpena, Bay City, and Harbor Beach. Ontario also has its share of important harbors. They include Collingwood, Midland, Tiffin, and Port McNicoll.

Many resorts line Lake Huron's shores. The Georgian Bay Islands National Park in the southeastern and western parts of the bay and the Thirty Thousand Islands along the eastern shore of the bay make the Georgian Bay a popular summer resort area.

History

Lake Huron was the first of the Great Lakes to be explored by Europeans. Samuel de Champlain, a French explorer, was the first European to see the Great Lakes. He reached the shores of Lake Huron in 1615. In 1669, French-Canadian explorer Louis Jolliet canoed down the lake. Ten years later, French explorer Robert Cavelier also crossed the lake.

In the mid-18th century the British began to explore the lake. Finally, the British captured Fort-Pontchartrain Détroit, or Fort Detroit, in 1760. In 1761, they captured Michilimackinac on the Straits of Mackinac. The current boundary between the United States and Canada was drawn after the American Revolution. This border was made final after the War of 1812.