Editing Lake Michigan (section)

== Shoreline ==

=== Beaches ===
[[File:Gfp-indiana-dunes-national-lakeshore-lake-michigan-lakeshore.jpg|thumb|View of Lake Michigan from [[Indiana Dunes National Park]]]]
Lake Michigan has many beaches. The region is often referred to as the "[[Third Coast]]"<ref>{{cite web |title=NOAA Great Lakes Region |url=http://www.regions.noaa.gov/great-lakes/index.php/regional-statistics/ |access-date=September 15, 2015 |publisher=[[NOAA]] |archive-date=April 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421111440/https://www.regions.noaa.gov/great-lakes/index.php/regional-statistics/ |url-status=live }}</ref> of the United States, after those of the [[Atlantic Ocean]] and the [[Pacific Ocean]]. The sand is often soft and off-white, known as "[[singing sand]]s" because of the squeaking noise (caused by high [[quartz]] content) it emits when walked upon. Some beaches have sand dunes covered in green [[Ammophila breviligulata|beach grass]] and [[Prunus pumila|sand cherries]], and the water is usually clear and cool, between {{convert|55|and|80|F|C}},<ref>{{cite web|title=Michigan Sea Grant Coastwatch|url=http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/twomichigans.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212190032/http://coastwatch.msu.edu/twomichigans.html |archive-date=February 12, 2010 |access-date=January 14, 2010 |publisher=Coastwatch.msu.edu}}</ref> even in the late summer months. However, because prevailing westerly winds tend to move the surface water toward the east, there is a flow of warmer water to the Michigan shore in the summer.<ref name="hilton" />

The sand dunes located on the east shore of Lake Michigan are the largest freshwater dune system in the world. In multiple locations along the shoreline, the dunes rise several hundred feet above the lake surface. Large dune formations can be seen in many state parks, national forests and national parks along the Indiana and Michigan shoreline. Some of the most expansive and unique dune formations can be found at [[Indiana Dunes National Park]], [[Saugatuck Dunes State Park]], [[Warren Dunes State Park]], [[Hoffmaster State Park]], [[Silver Lake State Park (Michigan)|Silver Lake State Park]], [[Ludington State Park]], and [[Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore]]. Small dune formations can be found on the western shore of Lake Michigan at [[Illinois Beach State Park]], and moderate-sized dune formations can be found in [[Kohler-Andrae State Park]] and [[Point Beach State Forest]] in Wisconsin. A large dune formation can be found in [[Whitefish Dunes State Park]] in Wisconsin in the [[Door Peninsula]]. Lake Michigan beaches in [[Northern Michigan]] are the only place in the world, aside from a few inland lakes in that region, where [[Petoskey stone]]s, the Michigan state stone, can be found.<ref>Wolgamott, K. (May 17, 2018). "Where to Find Petoskey Stones in Michigan." Retrieved from https://www.michigan.org/article/trip-idea/where-find-petoskey-stones-michigan {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624222145/https://www.michigan.org/article/trip-idea/where-find-petoskey-stones-michigan |date=June 24, 2021 }}</ref>

The beaches of the western coast and the northernmost part of the east coast are often rocky, with some sandy beaches. The southern and eastern beaches are typically sandy and dune-covered. This is partly because of the prevailing winds from the west (which also cause thick layers of ice to build on the eastern shore in winter). The Chicago city waterfront has been developed for parks, [[List of beaches in Chicago|beaches]], harbors and marinas, and residential developments connected by the [[Chicago Lakefront Trail]]. Where there are no beaches or marinas, stone or concrete revetments protect the shoreline from erosion. The Chicago lakefront is accessible for about {{convert|24|mi|km}} between the city's southern and northern limits along the lake.

=== Cities ===
[[File:Lake Michigan Watershed.png|thumb|Lake Michigan basin]]
Twelve million people live along Lake Michigan's shores, mainly in the [[Chicago]] and [[Milwaukee]] metropolitan areas. The economy of many communities in [[northern Michigan]] and [[Door County, Wisconsin]], is supported by [[tourism]], with large seasonal populations attracted by Lake Michigan.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.miseagrant.umich.edu/explore/coastal-communities/economic-vitality-and-the-great-lakes/ |title=Economic Vitality and the Great Lakes &#124; Michigan Sea Grant |access-date=February 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219144458/http://www.miseagrant.umich.edu/explore/coastal-communities/economic-vitality-and-the-great-lakes/ |archive-date=December 19, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Many seasonal residents have summer homes along the waterfront and return to other homes for the winter. The southern tip of the lake near Gary, Indiana, is heavily industrialized.

Cities on the shores of Lake Michigan include:

'''Illinois'''
* [[Chicago]]
* [[Evanston, Illinois|Evanston]]
* [[Wilmette, Illinois|Wilmette]]
* [[Winnetka, Illinois|Winnetka]]
* [[Kenilworth, Illinois|Kenilworth]]
* [[Glencoe, Illinois|Glencoe]]
* [[Highland Park, Illinois|Highland Park]]
* [[Lake Forest, Illinois|Lake Forest]]
* [[Lake Bluff, Illinois|Lake Bluff]]
* [[Naval Station Great Lakes]]
* [[North Chicago, Illinois|North Chicago]]
* [[Waukegan, Illinois|Waukegan]]
* [[Beach Park, Illinois|Beach Park]]
* [[Zion, Illinois|Zion]]
* [[Winthrop Harbor, Illinois|Winthrop Harbor]]

'''Indiana'''
* [[East Chicago, Indiana|East Chicago]]
* [[Gary, Indiana|Gary]]
* [[Hammond, Indiana|Hammond]]
* [[Michigan City, Indiana|Michigan City]]
* [[Portage, Indiana|Portage]]
* [[Porter, Indiana|Porter]]
* [[Whiting, Indiana|Whiting]]

'''Michigan'''
* [[Benton Harbor, Michigan|Benton Harbor]]
* [[Bridgman, Michigan|Bridgman]]
* [[Charlevoix, Michigan|Charlevoix]]
* [[Douglas, Michigan|Douglas]]
* [[Elberta, Michigan|Elberta]]
* [[Escanaba, Michigan|Escanaba]]
* [[Ferrysburg, Michigan|Ferrysburg]]
* [[Frankfort, Michigan|Frankfort]]
* [[Gladstone, Michigan|Gladstone]]
* [[Glenn, Michigan|Glenn]]
* [[Grand Beach, Michigan|Grand Beach]]
* [[Grand Haven, Michigan|Grand Haven]]
* [[Harbor Springs, Michigan|Harbor Springs]]
* [[Ludington, Michigan|Ludington]]
* [[Manistee, Michigan|Manistee]]
* [[Manistique, Michigan|Manistique]]
* [[Menominee, Michigan|Menominee]]
* [[Michiana, Michigan|Michiana]]
* [[Muskegon, Michigan|Muskegon]]
* [[New Buffalo, Michigan|New Buffalo]]
* [[Norton Shores, Michigan|Norton Shores]]
* [[Pentwater, Michigan|Pentwater]]
* [[Petoskey, Michigan|Petoskey]]
* [[Saugatuck, Michigan|Saugatuck]]
* [[Saint Joseph, Michigan|St. Joseph]]
* [[Shoreham, Michigan|Shoreham]]
* [[South Haven, Michigan|South Haven]]
* [[Traverse City, Michigan|Traverse City]]

'''Wisconsin'''
* [[Algoma, Wisconsin|Algoma]]
* [[Bay View, Milwaukee|Bay View]]
* [[Cudahy, Wisconsin|Cudahy]]
* [[Fox Point, Wisconsin|Fox Point]]
* [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]]
* [[Kenosha, Wisconsin|Kenosha]]
* [[Kewaunee, Wisconsin|Kewaunee]]
* [[Manitowoc, Wisconsin|Manitowoc]]
*[[Marinette, Wisconsin|Marinette]]
* [[Milwaukee]]
* [[Mequon]]
* [[Oconto, Wisconsin|Oconto]]
* [[Port Washington, Wisconsin|Port Washington]]
* [[Racine, Wisconsin|Racine]]
* [[Saint Francis, Wisconsin|Saint Francis]]
* [[Sheboygan, Wisconsin|Sheboygan]]
* [[Shorewood, Wisconsin|Shorewood]]
* [[South Milwaukee, Wisconsin|South Milwaukee]]
* [[Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin|Sturgeon Bay]]
* [[Two Rivers, Wisconsin|Two Rivers]]
* [[Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin|Whitefish Bay]]
* [[Waterford, Wisconsin|Waterford]]

{{gallery|mode=packed|align=center|width=135|height=135
|File:Milwaukee skyline.jpg|The [[Milwaukee]] lakefront
|File:Chicago-Silhouette (Lake Michigan).jpg|Silhouette of Chicago at the horizon
|File:Gold coast and Michigan lake (8091814447) (2).jpg|Chicago's [[Oak Street Beach]]
}}

=== Parks ===
The [[National Park Service]] maintains the [[Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore]] and [[Indiana Dunes National Park]]. Parts of the shoreline are within the [[Hiawatha National Forest]] and the [[Manistee National Forest]]. The Manistee National Forest section of the shoreline includes the [[Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness]]. The Lake Michigan division of the [[Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge]] is also within the lake, as are the [[Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge]] and the [[Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary]].

There are numerous state and local parks located on the shores of the lake or on islands within the lake:
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Chicago beaches|Chicago Park District Beaches]]
* [[Duck Lake State Park]]
* [[Fayette Historic State Park]]
* [[Fisherman's Island State Park]]
* [[Grand Haven State Park]]
* [[Grand Mere State Park]]
* [[Harrington Beach State Park]]
* [[Holland State Park]]
* [[Hoffmaster State Park]]
* [[Illinois Beach State Park]]
* [[Indian Lake State Park (Michigan)|Indian Lake State Park]]
* [[Indiana Dunes State Park]]
* [[Kohler-Andrae State Park]]
* [[Lake Park, Milwaukee]]
* [[Ludington State Park]]
* [[Leelanau State Park]]
* [[Mears State Park]]
* [[Muskegon State Park]]
* [[Newport State Park]]
* [[Orchard Beach State Park]]
* [[Peninsula State Park]]
* [[Pere Marquette Beach]]
* [[Potawatomi State Park]]
* [[Racine Zoo]]
* [[Rock Island State Park (Wisconsin)|Rock Island State Park]]
* [[Saugatuck Dunes State Park]]
* Shingleton Management Unit within the [[Lake Superior State Forest]]
* [[Silver Lake State Park (Michigan)|Silver Lake State Park]]
* [[Traverse City State Park]]
* [[Kohler-Andrae State Park|Terry Andrae State Park]]
* [[Van Buren State Park (Michigan)|Van Buren State Park]]
* [[Warren Dunes State Park]]
* [[Wells State Park (Michigan)|Wells State Park]]
* [[Whitefish Dunes State Park]]
* [[Wilderness State Park]]
{{div col end}}

{{gallery|mode=packed|align=center|width=135|height=135
|File:Lake Michigan from Big Sable Point lighthouse.jpg|[[Big Sable Point Light|Big Sable Point]], Michigan in Ludington State Park
|File:Sand dunes from Lake Michigan Overlook, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.jpg|Lake view from the [[Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore]], with people climbing uphill
|File:Lake Michigan Sleeping Bear Dunes.jpg|Sleeping Bear Dunes from the Empire Bluffs Trail near [[Empire, Michigan]]
|File:Eichelman Park Kenosha.jpg|Eichelman Park in [[Kenosha, Wisconsin]], with Lake Michigan in the background
|File:PortageLakeMichiganShoreline.jpg|Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline from [[Portage, Indiana]]
|File:Sunset at nordhouse dunes.jpg|Sunset at Nordhouse Dunes
}}