I thought that Lake Michigamme was a really beautiful lake. The water temperature was cool and refreshing but not so cold that I didn't want to hop in. The sandy bottom was fantastic and I loved how it remained shallow for a significant distance. The color of the water was really stunning and I had to do a little research to find out if my suspicion about where it came from was correct. It took a while but I finally confirmed my suspicion with the
Field Guide to Aquatic Phenomena. It is a really interesting website published by The University of Maine. The answer is that the iron ore from the ground makes it way into the lake and therefore causes it to reflect an orange color!
During my research I found that according to
this site, Lake Michigamme is one of Michigan's largest lakes (although much smaller than the Great Lakes.) It reaches a depth of over 70 feet. Its rocky 95-mile shoreline and underwater structure make it good, if challenging, for fishing especially for muskies and small mouth bass.
Tannic acid from cedars along the shore of lakes and rivers give a similar color effect. It is the color of root beer. I enjoyed your pictures of your swim and your description. I too, like the water cool but not cold because it is so much more refreshing.
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