Lake Charlevoix
Encyclopedia
Lake Charlevoix is a lake
in Charlevoix County
in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. It is the third largest lake in the state with a surface area of over 17,200 acres (70 km²) and 56 miles (90 km) of shoreline. The maximum depth in the main basin is 122 feet (37 m) and in the south arm, 58 feet (18 m).
The lake's largest tributaries are the Jordan River
, feeding into the south arm at East Jordan
, and the Boyne River
, flowing into the main basin from the east at Boyne City
. Other significant tributaries include Horton, Stover, Porter, and Loeb Creeks. The outflow of Lake Charlevoix is the short Round Lake/Pine River complex which discharges into Lake Michigan at Charlevoix
. The lake's watershed covers 335 square miles (867.6 km²) in Charlevoix and Antrim Counties
, and a small portion of the northwest corner of Otsego County
.
The lake occupies portions of Charlevoix Township
, Marion Township
, Hayes Township
, Eveline Township, Michigan
, Bay Township
, and Evangeline Township
.
Young State Park
is located on the shore of the lake just northwest of Boyne City. The Ironton Ferry
at Ironton, a designated Michigan Historical Site in operation since 1876, crosses the south arm where it branches off from the main basin, saving about 20 minutes of driving time around the south arm by the shoreline route.
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,...
in Charlevoix County
Charlevoix County, Michigan
-Airports:*Beaver Island is served by two airlines:**Welke Airport**Beaver Island Airport-Ferry service:*Beaver Island Boat Company maintains a regular auto ferry from Charlevoix:*The Ironton Ferry at Ironton, Michigan crosses the south arm of Lake Charlevoix...
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"....
. It is the third largest lake in the state with a surface area of over 17,200 acres (70 km²) and 56 miles (90 km) of shoreline. The maximum depth in the main basin is 122 feet (37 m) and in the south arm, 58 feet (18 m).
The lake's largest tributaries are the Jordan River
Jordan River (Michigan)
The Jordan River is a stream in the northwestern part of the lower peninsula in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the largest tributary of Lake Charlevoix. The Jordan's headwaters rise from springs in the upper Jordan River Valley northwest of Mancelona in Antrim County...
, feeding into the south arm at East Jordan
East Jordan, Michigan
East Jordan is a city in Charlevoix County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,507 at the 2000 census.The city is at the end of the south arm of Lake Charlevoix, at the mouth of the Jordan River. M-66 connects with US 31 at Charlevoix about 12 miles to the northwest and with US...
, and the Boyne River
Boyne River (Michigan)
Boyne River is a stream in Northern Michigan, named for the River Boyne in Leinster, Ireland. Together with the north and south branches, the river system has approximately of mainstream and the water basin drains...
, flowing into the main basin from the east at Boyne City
Boyne City, Michigan
Boyne City is a city in Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,503 at the 2000 census.Boyne City is at the southeast end of the east arm of Lake Charlevoix, where the Boyne River enters the lake...
. Other significant tributaries include Horton, Stover, Porter, and Loeb Creeks. The outflow of Lake Charlevoix is the short Round Lake/Pine River complex which discharges into Lake Michigan at Charlevoix
Charlevoix, Michigan
Charlevoix is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 2,994. It is the county seat of Charlevoix County....
. The lake's watershed covers 335 square miles (867.6 km²) in Charlevoix and Antrim Counties
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:...
, and a small portion of the northwest corner of Otsego County
Otsego County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,301 people, 8,995 households, and 6,539 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 people per square mile . There were 13,375 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
.
The lake occupies portions of Charlevoix Township
Charlevoix Township, Michigan
Charlevoix Township is a civil township of Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,697 at the 2000 census. However, during the summer months this population expands rapidly as Charlevoix is the location of many summer homes of people in the Detroit and Chicago...
, Marion Township
Marion Township, Charlevoix County, Michigan
Marion Township is a civil township of Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,492 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, Hayes Township
Hayes Township, Charlevoix County, Michigan
Hayes Township is a civil township of Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,893 at the 2000 census.-Communities:*Bay Shore is a small, unincorporated community on U.S...
, Eveline Township, Michigan
Eveline Township, Michigan
Eveline Township is a civil township of Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,560.-Communities:...
, Bay Township
Bay Township, Michigan
Bay Township is a civil township of Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 1,068. Bay Township's central village, Horton Bay, was featured in several of Hemingway's Nick Adams stories including "The End of Something".-Geography:According...
, and Evangeline Township
Evangeline Township, Michigan
Evangeline Township is a civil township of Charlevoix County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 773 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
.
Young State Park
Young State Park
Young State Park is a state park in the U.S. State of Michigan. It is located near Boyne City in Charlevoix County in the northwest of Northern Michigan. The park, which sits on the eastern edge of Lake Charlevoix, offers numerous opportunities for land- and water-based recreation.- Facilities...
is located on the shore of the lake just northwest of Boyne City. The Ironton Ferry
Ironton Ferry
Ironton Ferry is a four-car cable ferry that crosses a narrow point on the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix in the U.S. State of Michigan in the town Ironton. The Ferry connects Ironton, a small village about 5 miles from Charlevoix, Michigan, to Boyne City, Michigan. Ironton was a Pig Iron Factory...
at Ironton, a designated Michigan Historical Site in operation since 1876, crosses the south arm where it branches off from the main basin, saving about 20 minutes of driving time around the south arm by the shoreline route.