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I think the biggest differences between natural and manmade lake would have to be depth, water quality/clarity, stumpage that may or may not have been removed.
I know I hate seeing manmade lakes in agriculltural runoff like those inland lakes in Southern Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and other farm intensive areas of the Midwest because they are soupy pea green because of the excessive Phophorus loading resulting in lots of algae and rough fish.
What do you mean by "farm intensive areas"? 52.9% of MN is covered by farmland, versus only 43.8% in WI.
WI has more diverse terrain, more forests, more hills, and more Great Lakes shoreline than MN. WI is #1 in tourism in the Midwest for a reason.
I'd say the Great Lakes aspect of MI definitely puts the state up there. MI is a hidden gem. Plus there are tons of lakes inside the state... WI is similar to MN as there are many lakes plus a Great Lakes state. I'd say something like
This is a great question, and one I can't believe hasn't been posted in some format here.
I can't honestly answer this because I haven't seen enough lakes extensively in all the states. I haven't hit up nearly enough areas. So, instead, I'll compile a short list, and try to do it in order of beauty.
1) Lake Coeur D'Alene in Idaho and Pend Oreille are at the top of my list. At one point during the drive on these lakes I was playing "Tir Na Nog" by Van Morrison and was struggling not to sail off the road off and off the cliff. That drive from Thompson Falls Montana up through the Idaho Panhandle and through those lakes were two of the most memorable days of my life.
2) Lake Crescent in the Olympic Peninsula section of Washington State.
3) Lake George New York
4) Lake Champlain New York/Vermont
5) Finger Lakes New York
6) Rangeley Lake/Mooselookmeguntic Maine
7) Saranac Lake New York
8) Lake Minnetonka Minnesota
9) Belgrade Lakes Maine
10) Congamond Lake on the Massachusetts/Connecticut border
Lakes I would love to vacation and see in the future:
1) Lake Shasta California
2) Lake of the Ozarks Missouri (I am moving there, so it probably won't take very long to visit!)
3) Lake of the Woods Minnesota
4) The entire Michigan Upper Peninsula bordering Lake Superior
5) Lake Tahoe California
Well that certainly paints the picture. What a beautiful and unique part of the world Michigan is. I had not idea there was such a plethora of gorgeous lake receration there. I mean it's obvious when one looks at a map, however it's noteriety should be beefed up more. Not saying it's been an afterthought, rather Michigan is vastly underated. I suppose Minnesota may have stolen some sunshine with the 10,000 lakes lisense plate.
minnesota has way more then just 10,000 lakes, differant states have differant standards on whats considered a lake. if minnesota were to go by wisconsins criteria for a lake minnesota would have over 22,000 lakes.
Well that certainly paints the picture. What a beautiful and unique part of the world Michigan is. I had not idea there was such a plethora of gorgeous lake receration there. I mean it's obvious when one looks at a map, however it's noteriety should be beefed up more. Not saying it's been an afterthought, rather Michigan is vastly underated. I suppose Minnesota may have stolen some sunshine with the 10,000 lakes lisense plate.
I am thinking you are right and I should have voted for Michigan.
I guess this poll is fine assuming you remove Michigan as an entry and entitle it, "What State, with obvious exception of Michigan, has the best lakes?"
It's fun to have polls and vote and think and click radio buttons, but there is no comparison to Michigan. Michigan is made of two peninsulas quite literally surrounded by nearly one-fifth of the world's fresh water, i.e., lakes. Sand dunes dating eons, enormous expanses, fishing, recreation, transportation gateway, vistas. Plus, Michigan, as I recall, also has more than 10,000 lakes. Oh, and 4 of the ones bordering it are among the largest lakes (sic, "inland seas") in the world. BigLakes are incredibly cool.
Last edited by BigLake; 06-10-2010 at 11:39 PM..
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