Why is torch lake blue

Willow, birch and poplar took hold. Pine, oak and hemlock began to cover the watershed. Maple and beech grew here, too. Swamps filled with cedar, tamarack and black spruce. Woodland people arrived and planted gardens with corn, bean and squash seeds from as far away as Mexico. They made nets, harpoons and hooks for fishing, as well as bows and arrows with chert arrowheads for hunting. They wove mats and birch baskets. They crafted canoes for traveling on the water.

Lowest Terrace — Many cabins, cottages and now year-round homes on the shores of Torch Lake have been built on the Algoma Beach. Trees grew over feet tall and big — more than 15 feet around.

The forest became dark and wildlife declined. Trees along the shore of the lake and streams fell in the water and created habitat for fish, clams and crayfish. Storms blew down the ancient trees and new plants grew in these open spaces. New people came, too. They called themselves Anishinaabek or First People. They built wigwams of bent poles covered with birch bark, woven mats or animal skins, and snowshoes and toboggans for traveling in deep snow.

They hunted elk and bear in the forest. They speared whitefish and sturgeon. They tapped maple trees to sweeten their food. But, it's actually possible to go see those crystal clear waves right in our own state. Torch Lake is one of the most popular tourist locations for a reason.

That reason is that it's gorgeous! It's only a short drive from Traverse City. If you're looking to spend a weekend away from the city, this lake is two hours from Grand Rapids and four hours from Detroit. There is a public beach with an access ramp that can be used to put a boat in. Although this spot offers a gorgeous view and a lot of activity, the actual sandy beach area is not that large.

You could stop here if you're looking for a grassy spot to lay a blanket down on and have a picnic with your friends. The main attraction is the sandbar. The land rises up, which makes the water really shallow so everyone can hop out of their boats and walk around. As if the clear blue waters weren't enough to make you feel like you were in the tropics, if you go on a holiday weekend, the parties at the sandbar will make you feel like you stepped into a college Spring Break movie.

If you're interested in renting a boat , there are several places that offer really nice pontoons for super reasonable prices. The Carribean blue waters do have a bit of a catch. With summer just around the corner, homeowners on Torch Lake are ready to get back out onto the water and into the sun.

But summer, and the lake as we have known it, is threatened by the growing presence of algae both at the surface and lakebed. Algal growth can be attributed to the addition of nutrients from fertilizers used on lawns that run directly into the lake. Nitrogen, the nutrient in fertilizer that encourages grass to grow, also encourages algal growth. Many homeowners around the lake have already vowed to not fertilize.