Lake Saint Clair (North America)

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Lake St. Clair (French: Lac Sainte-Claire) is a lake that lies between Ontario, Canada and Michigan in the United States, located about 10 kilometres (6 mi) northeast of Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. Approximately 1,114 km² (430 sq mi) in area, the lake is part of the Great Lakes system; however, because of its relatively small size, it is rarely, if ever, included in enumerations of the Great Lakes, although actions have been taken to include it as an officially-recognized Great Lake itself, including in 2002. The lake, along with the St. Clair River and Detroit River, provides the connection between Lake Huron to the north and Lake Erie to the south.

The lake is 42 kilometres (26 mi) from north to south and 37 kilometres (24 mi) from east to west. It is a very shallow lake with an average depth of about 10 feet (3 m), and a maximum natural depth of 21 feet (6.4 m), although it is 27 feet (8.2 m) deep in the navigation channel which has been dredged for freighter passage. The lake is fed from Lake Huron at its north by the St. Clair River, which has an extensive delta, the largest within the Great Lakes system. The Thames River and Sydenham River enter the lake from the east in Southwestern Ontario, and the Clinton River enters from Michigan on the west. The lake is drained on its southwest end into Lake Erie by the Detroit River.

The residence time of water in Lake St. Clair averages 7 days, but can vary from 2 to 30 days, depending on wind direction and circulation patterns. If the water flows through the navigation channel, which is maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the time the water remains in the lake is perhaps just 2 days.

Naming

The lake served as part of the extensive navigational system of the Great Lakes for First Nations/Native Americans. On August 12, 1679 an expedition led by René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle named it Lac Sainte-Claire as they discovered it on the feast day of Saint Clare of Assisi. The historian on the voyage, Louis Hennepin, recorded that the Iroquois called the lake "Otseketa". Prior to the voyage of La Salle, other names for the lake had appeared on earlier maps, including "Lac des Eaux de Mer" [Lake of the Water of the Sea], "Otsiketa" [Sugar or Candy], "Ganatchio" [Kettle], "Lac de la Chaudiere" [Kettle], "Kandequio" or "Kandekio" [possibly, Candy], "Oiatinatchiketo" [probably, a form of Otsiketa], and "Oiatinonchikebo". Candy or sugar, Iroquois Otsiketa, was reportedly used by Native People to discribe "white man's sugar" or salt. To compliment the Sugar, or Candy, Lake, Lake Huron was called "The Grand Lake of the Sweet Sea" and "Mare Dulce" on Dutch maps while "Mer Douce" [Sea that is Sweet] is found on early maps by the French. "Wahwehyahtahnoong" was the name used by the Missisauga for Lake Saint Clair. They established a village near the lake in the latter part of the 17th century. The lake is named on English maps as early as 1710 as Saint Clare. But as early as the Mitchell Map in 1755, the spelling is presented with the current spelling as St. Clair. The name is sometimes attributed as honoring the American Revolutionary War General and Governor of the Northwest Territory Arthur St. Clair, but the name was in use with the current spelling long before St. Clair was a notable figure. However it is possible that earlier name of the lake was conflated with that of the general in naming some of the political entities near the lake and the river, such as St. Clair County, Michigan, St. Clair Township, Michigan, and the cities of St. Clair and St. Clair Shores.

The origin of the name has also been confused with that Patrick Sinclair, a British officer who purchased land on the St. Clair River at the outlet of the Pine River. There, in 1764, he built Fort Sinclair, which was in use for nearly twenty years before being abandoned.

Locale

The southwestern portion of the lake shore is lined by the wealthy eastern suburbs of Detroit and Windsor, Ontario known as the Grosse Pointe communities and Russell Woods and St. Clair Beach respectively. Public access to the lake is highly restricted in these areas, limited to private marinas and parks that are open only to residents of the specific community. Further north, in Harrison Township, lies Metro Beach, a popular public beach.

Several yacht clubs are located along this shore, including:

Many of North America's fresh water fish species can be found in the lake throughout the seasons. Species popular with anglers include Bass, Bluegill, Bullhead, Catfish, Muskellunge, Northern Pike, Perch, Salmon, Smelt, Steelhead, Sturgeon, Trout, and Walleye.

Notes

References

Fuller, George Newman (2005). Local history and personal sketches of St. Clair and Shiawassee counties. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Library.
Jenks, William Lee (2005). St. Clair County, Michigan, its history and its people. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Library.

External links

The Lake St.Clair Network Networking boaters, anglers, and water sport enthusiasts
Fishing Reports for the Area Fishing Reports for the Area.
World Lakes Database entry for Lake St. Clair (facts & figures)
Terry Pepper on lighthouses of the Western Great Lakes.