Glen Lake
Encyclopedia
Glen Lake is a lake
located in Leelanau County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
, near Lake Michigan
. Several villages and hamlets lie along or near its shore, including Burdickville, Glen Arbor, and Glen Haven
. The lake actually consists of two large bodies of water connected by a narrow channel crossed by the State Route 22 bridge, with the larger body to the east being referred to as "Big Glen Lake" and the smaller body to the west as "Little Glen Lake". The two bodies, collectively referred to as Glen Lake, are at the same level and hydrologically similar. The total surface area of the two bodies are 4871 acres (20 km²) and 1415 acres (6 km²), with maximum depths of 130 feet (40 m) and 13 ft (4 m) respectively. There was a point in time when the lakes were actually the same depth, but sand blown from the adjacent Sleeping Bear Dunes
is slowly filling in Little Glen. Big Glen Lake is nearly perfectly round, while Little Glen is more elongated.
The lake is located in a spectacular setting of wooded rolling sand hills just east of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
, centered at 44°52′N 85°57′W. It is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the Great Lakes region. Its waters, filtered by the underlying and surrounding sands, are remarkably clear and pure, and glow with an iridescent indigo blue. Its beauty, purity, and lack of large waves make it a popular lake for vacationers, with opportunities for boating, swimming, and fishing. Sportfish present include yellow perch
, smallmouth bass
, northern pike
, brown trout
, and lake trout
.
The many trails, roads, and elevations in the area make Glen Lake a popular destination for running training. At the end of August, many colleges and high schools send students from athletic programs to the Glen Lake area for training, including the University of Michigan
and the University of Virginia
.
According to local legend, Glen Lake was recognized as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world by National Geographic Magazine
, although the National Geographic Society
denies ever publishing such a ranking. Similar legends persist regarding other nearby Michigan lakes, including Torch Lake
in Antrim County
, supposedly ranked third.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
located in Leelanau County
Leelanau County, Michigan
-History:The county's name is said to be a Native American word meaning "delight of life", but it is a neologism made up by Indian agent and ethnographer Henry Schoolcraft, who sometimes gave the name "Leelinau" to Native American women in his tales. He created many faux Indian place names in...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, near Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
. Several villages and hamlets lie along or near its shore, including Burdickville, Glen Arbor, and Glen Haven
Glen Haven, Michigan
Glenn Haven is a restored logging village on the shore of Lake Michigan on the Leelanau Peninsula within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Attractions include the restored General Store and Blacksmith Shop. The unincorporated community is located in Glen Arbor Township.Also located in...
. The lake actually consists of two large bodies of water connected by a narrow channel crossed by the State Route 22 bridge, with the larger body to the east being referred to as "Big Glen Lake" and the smaller body to the west as "Little Glen Lake". The two bodies, collectively referred to as Glen Lake, are at the same level and hydrologically similar. The total surface area of the two bodies are 4871 acres (20 km²) and 1415 acres (6 km²), with maximum depths of 130 feet (40 m) and 13 ft (4 m) respectively. There was a point in time when the lakes were actually the same depth, but sand blown from the adjacent Sleeping Bear Dunes
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a United States National Lakeshore located along the northwest coast of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan in Leelanau County and Benzie County....
is slowly filling in Little Glen. Big Glen Lake is nearly perfectly round, while Little Glen is more elongated.
The lake is located in a spectacular setting of wooded rolling sand hills just east of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a United States National Lakeshore located along the northwest coast of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan in Leelanau County and Benzie County....
, centered at 44°52′N 85°57′W. It is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the Great Lakes region. Its waters, filtered by the underlying and surrounding sands, are remarkably clear and pure, and glow with an iridescent indigo blue. Its beauty, purity, and lack of large waves make it a popular lake for vacationers, with opportunities for boating, swimming, and fishing. Sportfish present include yellow perch
Yellow perch
The yellow perch is a species of perch found in the United States and Canada, where it is often referred to by the shortform perch. Yellow perch look similar to the European perch, but are paler and more yellowish, with less red in the fins. They have six to eight dark, vertical bars on their sides...
, smallmouth bass
Smallmouth bass
The smallmouth bass is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of the order Perciformes. It is the type species of its genus...
, northern pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
, brown trout
Brown trout
The brown trout and the sea trout are fish of the same species....
, and lake trout
Lake trout
Lake trout is a freshwater char living mainly in lakes in northern North America. Other names for it include mackinaw, lake char , touladi, togue, and grey trout. In Lake Superior, they can also be variously known as siscowet, paperbellies and leans...
.
The many trails, roads, and elevations in the area make Glen Lake a popular destination for running training. At the end of August, many colleges and high schools send students from athletic programs to the Glen Lake area for training, including the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
.
According to local legend, Glen Lake was recognized as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world by National Geographic Magazine
National Geographic Magazine
National Geographic, formerly the National Geographic Magazine, is the official journal of the National Geographic Society. It published its first issue in 1888, just nine months after the Society itself was founded...
, although the National Geographic Society
National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society , headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interests include geography, archaeology and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical...
denies ever publishing such a ranking. Similar legends persist regarding other nearby Michigan lakes, including Torch Lake
Torch Lake (Antrim County, Michigan)
Torch Lake at long is Michigan's longest inland lake and at approximately 18,770 acres is Michigan's second largest inland lake. National Geographic rated it the third most beautiful lake in the world. An average property on Torch Lake costs approximately two million dollars...
in Antrim County
Antrim County, Michigan
-History:Antrim County was formed in 1863. In 1950 its population was 10,721. The county seat was originally located in Elk Rapids, but was moved to Bellaire in 1904 after 25 years of litigation.-Demographics:...
, supposedly ranked third.