Lake Huron, << HYUR uhn, >> is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It was named for the Huron, an indigenous (native) people who lived on its shores. Lake Huron lies between Lake Michigan and Lake Erie, and forms part of the boundary between the United States and Canada. The lake is about 206 miles (332 kilometers) long, and its greatest width is about 183 miles (295 kilometers). Its area, including the North Channel and Georgian Bay, is 23,000 square miles (59,600 square kilometers).
Huron lies at the same level as Lake Michigan, 577 feet (176 meters) above sea level. The deepest part of Lake Huron is 750 feet (229 meters) below the surface. The lake drains an area of about 51,700 square miles (133,902 square kilometers).
The St. Marys River connects Lake Huron and Lake Superior. The Soo Canals, a set of canals and locks on the river, allow ships to pass between the two lakes. The canal system was built to make up for a 20-foot (6-meter) drop in water level at St. Marys Rapids. The canals have four locks on the United States side and one lock on the Canadian side. The drop in water level at the rapids has also resulted in the construction of hydroelectric power plants to generate electricity.
The Straits of Mackinac connect Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. The waters of Lake Huron flow into Lake Erie by way of the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, and the Detroit River.
Lake Huron has many kinds of fish, including lake trout, coho salmon, whitefish, pike, perch, and smallmouth bass. Many islands dot the northern side of the lake. The two most important islands on Lake Huron are Mackinac Island, in Michigan, and Manitoulin Island, in Ontario, Canada. Violent storms that frequently occur between December and May make the lake dangerous for shipping during the winter. Cliffs rise 150 feet (46 meters) on Lake Huron’s southeastern shoreline.
