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Wisconsin's entire eastern border is Lake Michigan, and part of the northern border is Lake Superior. Both are stunningly beautiful, but my preference is Michigan. Lake Superior is so imposing and cold - Michigan is also imposing, but a little warmer.
Favorite (or most scenic):
Cleanest or least polluted:
Economically important to Canada and/or USA:
The cities along the lake:
and Overall:
Favorite: Lake Superior
Most scenic: Lake Superior
Cleanest: Lake Superior
Economically important to Canada: Lake Ontario
Economically important to the USA: Lake Michigan
The cities along the lake: Lake Michigan
It seems Lake Huron is the least known lake, but somehow I feel it must carry some big merrits that are just not on the radar. I'd love somebody to chime in on Lake Huron.
I'm sure it is; looking at the map, Huron doesn't have many big cities along it. Sarnia looks like it's the biggest town on the lake. I would like to have some thoughts on Huron too.
I'm not sure the relevance, but I think Lake Superior's shape is much more intriguing. It strikes me as being wild and dangerous with a beastly presence that will not be tamed.
OTOH, for some sub-conscious reason that I can't (or won't) put my fingers on, Lake Michigan seems limp and flaccid and really doesn't do much to offer up any inspiration.
I went to Lake Superior for the first time last summer (late August) and it was gorgeous. From the lakes I've visited (Huron, Superior and Ontario), I would say Superior is the most scenic hands down.
The waves were huge too. They can get quite big on Lake Ontario, but on Lake Superior they were always big and often just huge. Most of the time, they were the same size as they were when I went to Britanny, France, Cape Cod or British Columbia...
The locals refer to its shore as the "coast", and the area away from the shore as "inland". Some of the people I've met there say they get their drinking water straight from the lake, without treating it, so it's very clean. Last summer I was lucky too, the water was actually pretty warm, around 20C. And it's not just the waves... there are some very nice steep green hills and cliffs, Sleeping Giant and sandy beaches.
As for lake Huron, I've been to it quite a few times, it doesn't have any significant cities but it does have natural beauty and nice beaches. Google Killarney, Wasaga Beach, Sauble Beach, Flowerpot Islands, 30000 islands, killbear park, North Channel.
I should really go to Lake Erie though, it's a shame I haven't been after living only a few hours away for 20 years... Long Point and Point Pelee are supposed to be quite nice.
Lake Superior has more water volume than all the other lakes combined plus an additional three lake Eries, it's practically a mini-ocean, it's just huge. I've been to all of the great lakes and Superior definitely tops them all in my opinion, it's simply gorgeous. However the 30,000 island region of Lake Huron is very nice also.
Sorry Lake Erie, I love ya, but the algae and pollution is a bit of a turn off, though I'd sooner swim there than Lake Michigan if it's anywhere near Chicago.
Another cool thing about Superior is the Book Across the Bay, a yearly event every February where thousands of people ski and snowshoe across 10 miles of frozen Lake Superior. Really cool!
Lake Erie is undoubtedly the most economically important lake though, with more large cities (both US and Canadian) located on it than anywhere else.
For your criteria:
Favorite (or most scenic): Superior (Huron runner up)
Cleanest or least polluted: Superior
Economically important to Canada and/or USA: Erie
The cities along the lake: Detroit (okay, it's on lake St. Claire, but close enough), Toledo, Cleveland, Erie, Buffalo, London ON
and Overall: Superior (it's just superior )
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