HURON, LAKE (ante), one of the five great lakes on the n. frontier of the United States, lying between lake Superior on the n.w., lake Michigan on the w., and lake Erie on the s.e. It is the third in size of the great lakes, having an area of about 21,000 sq.m., and being about 250 m. long, and 190 m. wide. It receives the waters of lake Superior through the St. Mary's river, and those of lake Michigan through the straits of Mackinaw, and empties through the St. Clair river into lake Erie. It is bounded w. and s. NV. by the southern peninsula of Michigan, and n. and e. by the province of Onta rio, Canada. The general direction of the lake lengthwise is from n.n.w. to s.s.e., and it is divided into two parts by the Huron peninsula and a chMn of islands, of which the Great Manitoulin is the largest, which inclose altogether within Canadian territory the vast Georgian bay, and Manitoulin bay. The larger portion of the lake is in the form of a crescent, with its hollow side towards Michigan, the Michigan shore being deeply indented by Saginaw and Thunder hays. The surface is 19 ft. above the level of lake Erie, 352 ft. above lake Ontario, and 578 ft. above the sea, with occasional fluctuations as in the other lakes. Its depth is very great, averaging from 800 ft. to 1000 ft., while
off Saginaw bay it is said that soundings of 1800 ft., or 1200 ft. below the level of the Atlantic, have been made without finding bottom. The waters are very clear, pure, cold, and sweet, especially in the northern part, and abound in fish, of which the white fish is the most important. There are few harbors on the w. side, but vessels find shel ter in Saginaw bay, about 70 m. n. of the outlet, and also in Thunder bay, as much further north. Presque isle is also a fair harbor, and there is good shelter under the s. side of the island of Mackinaw. A number of streams of no great importance empty into the lake. The lake is subject to violent storms, but navigation is safe from May 1 to Dec. 1. Mackinaw has long been an important post for fur trade with the Indians. Bay city, at the head of Saginaw bay, is an important lumber depot, and copper mines have been opened in the upper portions of Manitoulin bay. Excellent grindstones are cut. from the sandstone near Thunder bay. It is said that not less than 3,000 islands break the surface of the lake.