Editing Lake Michigan (section)

=== 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.