Hamlin Lake

Hamlin Lake is a man-made lake in Michigan enlarged by the backup of the Big Sable River by the Hamlin Lake Dam before it reaches Lake Michigan. The lake, which covers 4,990 acres (20.2 km2), is 12 miles long and two miles wide. It has two sections, the upper and lower lakes, which are separated by the narrows. The western section has a maximum depth of almost 80 feet (24 m) while the eastern section is only 34 feet (10 m)[2] The first dam was built in the 1850 for a sawmill. Ludington State Park lies along the entire western shore of the lake while the eastern tip of the lake is in the Manistee National Forest.

Hamlin Lake
Hamlin Lake
LocationMichigan
Coordinates44.1°N 86.5°W / 44.1; -86.5
Max. length12 miles (19 km)
Max. width2 miles (3.2 km)
Surface area4,990 acres (20.2 km2)
Max. depth80 feet (24 m)
Surface elevation594 feet (181 m)[1]

The lake is great for swimming during summer months as it is typically much warmer than Lake Michigan and has a smaller swimming area, making it easier to keep track of family and friends. Dunes separate the western shore of Hamlin Lake from the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. State park visitors can rent a variety of boats at this location and many of the park's trails (including a canoe trail) begin and end here. During the winter season, ice fishing is popular. Gamefish have been stocked in the lake since the 1890s.

See also

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hamlin Lake
  2. Hamlin Lake Mason County Big Sable River watershed, surveyed 2010, Mark A. Tonello, Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources, 2012
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