View source for Crystal Lake (Benzie County, Michigan)

{{Short description| Lake in the state of Michigan, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox body of water
 | name                 = Crystal Lake
 | image                = Michigan's Crystal Lake.jpg
 | caption              = 
 | image_bathymetry     = 
 | caption_bathymetry   = 
 | location             = [[Benzie County, Michigan]]
 | coords               = {{coord|44|39|N|86|09|W|type:waterbody_region:US-MI|display=inline,title}}
 | type                 = 
 | inflow               = 
 | outflow              = Outlet Creek
 | catchment            = {{convert|22.5|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}
 | basin_countries      = United States
 | length               = {{convert|8.11|mi|km|0}}
 | width                = {{convert|2.5|mi|km|0}}
 | area                 = {{convert|9854|acre|km2|0}}
 | depth                = {{convert|70|ft|m|abbr=on}}
 | max-depth            = {{convert|165|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}
 | volume               = 
 | residence_time       = 
 | shore                = 
 | elevation            = {{convert|600|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}
 | islands              = none
 | cities               = [[Beulah, Michigan|Beulah]], [[Benzonia, Michigan|Benzonia]], [[Frankfort, Michigan|Frankfort]], [[Elberta, Michigan|Elberta]]
<!--      Map      -->
 | pushpin_map          = Michigan
 | pushpin_label_position  = 
 | pushpin_map_alt      = Location of the lake in Michigan.
 | pushpin_map_caption  = 
}}
'''Crystal Lake''', the largest [[lake]] of this name in [[Michigan]], is located near [[Lake Michigan]] in [[Benzie County, Michigan|Benzie County]] about {{convert|25|mi|km}} southwest of [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]] and about {{convert|2|mi|km}} northeast of [[Frankfort, Michigan|Frankfort]] at {{coord|44|39|N|86|09|W}}. It measures approximately {{convert|2.5|by|8|mi|km}}, and has a maximum depth of {{convert|165|ft|m}}. At {{convert|9854|acre|km2|0}}, it is Michigan's ninth largest inland lake. Up to and through the American Civil War years Crystal Lake was known as "Cap Lake" due to the frequent [[Wind_wave|whitecaps]] visible on its surface. Crystal Lake is adjacent to the southern reaches of the [[Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore]].

In 1873, an effort was made to connect Crystal Lake with Lake Michigan via a channel. The lake level of Crystal Lake was higher than that of Lake Michigan and when the channel was opened, the water level in Crystal Lake dropped about {{convert|20|ft|m|abbr=on}}. Although the project was a failure, the lowering of the lake level uncovered sandy beaches, including the current public beach at [[Beulah, Michigan|Beulah]].<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Watershed Facts|url=http://crystallakewatershed.org/crystal-lake-watershed/watershed-facts|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510193807/http://crystallakewatershed.org/crystal-lake-watershed/watershed-facts |archive-date=2016-05-10 |accessdate=6 June 2018|website=|publisher=Crystal Lake & Watershed Association}}</ref>

The [[Drainage basin|watershed]] that feeds Crystal Lake is very small, and fertilizer and sewage outflows are minimal, leading to the exceptionally clear water that gives it its current name. The surface area of the lake is 35% of the total area of the drainage basin (land and water combined).

==See also==
*[[List of lakes in Michigan]]

==References==
<references />
*{{gnis|624181|Crystal Lake}}

==Further reading== 
* Scott, I.D. (1921) [https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=D10MAAAAYAAJ&pg=GBS.PR22&hl=en Inland Lakes of Michigan] Michigan Geological Society.

==External links==
*{{cite web|url= http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/SPATIALDATALIBRARY/PDF_MAPS/INLAND_LAKE_MAPS/BENZIE/CRYSTAL_LAKE.PDF |title=Michigan DNR map of Crystal Lake }}&nbsp;{{small|(558&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]])}}
*[https://www.flickr.com/groups/1197548@N25/ Crystal Lake Michigan Gems: Flickr Photo Group]
[[Image:Crystal Lake Near Bike Trail.jpg|thumb|left|Crystal Lake at bike trail just north of M-115]]

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[[Category:Lakes of Michigan]]
[[Category:Bodies of water of Benzie County, Michigan]]