Lake St. Clair Facts & Worksheets

Lake St. Clair is a freshwater lake that serves as part of the boundary between the state of Michigan in the USA and the province of Ontario in Canada. It serves as a provider of the region in terms of ecological and environmental needs.

See the fact file below for more information on Lake St. Clair, or you can download our 26-page Lake St. Clair worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LAKE AND THE GREAT LAKES

• Lake St. Clair takes the shape of an expansive shallow basin that is roughly circular, with dimensions of a body of water that is 26 miles long, 24 miles wide, depth of 11 feet, and with a surface area of 467 square miles.
• It is home to one of the largest sport fisheries in the world, wherein one-third of fish caught in the annual Great Lakes sport comes from the lake itself.
• Lake St. Clair is part of the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth called The Great Lakes of North America and is called the “Heart of the Great Lakes”.
• The Great Lakes are a series of lakes in east-central North America (Lake Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario) connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Saint Lawrence River.
• Lake St. Clair is part of the Lake Erie basin, and it connects Lake Huron to its north with Lake Erie to its south.
• Around 14,000 years ago, at the end of the Last Glacial Period, the great lakes of North America began to form and later became sources of migration, habitat, and trade of goods and services. The water takes around seven days to enter and leave Lake St. Clair.

HISTORY OF THE LAKE

• Before the lake was given its current name, it had been given many names by indigenous people in Canada and Native Americans.
• Louis Jolliet, a French explorer, was believed to be the first European to visit the lake in 1669, but some speculate that it was two French missionaries in 1670.
• French explorers René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, and Father Louis Hennepin arrived on the lake during St. Clair’s Day in 1679, where its current name comes from.
• St. Clair’s Day is a day of celebration of the patron saint of eye disease, goldsmiths, laundry, television, bicycle messengers, good weather, and needleworkers.
• Saint Clare of Assisi, one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi, is the founder of the Order of Poor Ladies inspired by St. Francis’ teachings.
• She also wrote the first set of monastic guidelines written by a woman, referred to as their Rule of Life.
• She was born on July 16, 1194, died on August 11, 1253, and was canonized at Rome on September 26, 1255. Her feast day is on August 11.

ENVIRONMENT, RECREATION, AND TOURISM

• Lake St. Clair serves as a habitat for underwater species and migratory birds.
• The excellent quality of water in the lake has become a source of drinking water for millions of people along the regions of the USA and Canada that are near the lake through the St. Clair-Detroit River System. The condition of the water in the lake is being monitored for safety in its vast consumption.
• Since 1949, a Chlor-Alkali plant in Sarnia, Ontario, has been discharging mercury into the river while producing chemicals that later on contaminated the fishery and then made the lake close its commercial services on fishing in the early 1970s due to bioaccumulation of mercury.
• Since the 1970 incident, the mercury content in the lake has been eliminated, and consumption guidelines have been in place since 1977 to protect the resident’s consumption of fish in the lake.
• Fish consumption in the lake was also monitored, especially during sport fishing events (most of them annually), as Lake St. Clair is a popular place to conduct these activities.
• Lake St. Clair is also a popular summer destination for many recreational activities.
• Yacht clubs are famous on the shores of the lake.
  • Some of the yacht clubs located along the lakeshore in Michigan include the Albatross Yacht Club, Crescent Sail Yacht Club, Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, Lakeshore Sail Club, North Channel Yacht Club, The Great Lakes Yacht Club, and the Windsor Yacht Club.
  • Some yacht clubs located along the lakeshore in Ontario include the Windsor Yacht Club, Southport Sailing Club, St. Clair Sail Club, and the Thames River Yacht Club.
• Nearby the river is also different public beaches, such as the following: Belle Isle Beach in Michigan; Lake St. Clair Metropark in Michigan; Lakeview Park West beach in Belle River, Ontario; Marine City Beach in Marine City, Michigan; Mitchell’s Bay Beach in Mitchell’s Bay, Ontario; New Baltimore beach in Michigan; and Sandpoint beach in Windsor, Ontario.
• Species of plant life also flourish across Lake St. Clair. Some proposals thought to acknowledge Lake St. Clair as a great lake, which can attract several scientific researchers to conduct their research there.

INITIATIVES, MANAGEMENT AND LAKE SAFETY PROGRAMS

• Several departments, partnerships, and collaborations aim to manage, control, and raise awareness of the status of Lake St. Clair, especially its nearby residents and consumers.
• The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). MDHHS provides public assistance and welfare services, supervises health policies, and creates programs for child support, juvenile justice, and domestic violence. They are also responsible for issuing updates on the Eat Safe Fish guidelines to protect residents, especially children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with existing health problems in their consumption of different fish species since the incident in the early 1970s with the bioaccumulation of mercury.
• The St. Clair-Detroit River System (SCDRS) Initiative. Through the bi-national collaborative partnership of more than 30 organizations, the SCDRS Initiative aims to create science-based management and principles for a thriving ecosystem in several rivers, including Lake St. Clair.
• Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG)’s One Water Campaign. SEMCOG partners with different groups and agencies to bring the One Water Campaign to fruition, focusing on the shared responsibility of lakes, rivers, drinking water, and water systems.
• Binational Lake St. Clair Conference. An event held every two years, it is a binational forum for discussing the changing environment and actions to the changes about Lake St. Clair.
• Other initiatives, actions, and programs include the St. Clair River Area of Concern, the Lake St. Clair Tourism Initiative, and the Clinton River Area of Concern.

Lake St. Clair Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Lake St. Clair across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Lake St.Clair. Lake St. Clair is a freshwater lake that serves as part of the boundary between the state of Michigan in the USA and the province of Ontario in Canada. It serves as a provider of the region in terms of ecological and environmental needs.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Lake St. Clair Facts
2. Wa-True or False?
3. Big Sales at Lake Mart
4. Connect Four Trouble
5. Word-Play
6. The Fest of Assisi
7. CYOA: Lake St. Clair
8. Learners React!
9. Pieces of Information
10. Draw Your Welcome!
11. I, Youth Leader

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Lake St. Clair located?

Lake St. Clair is located in North America, specifically between the state of Michigan in the United States and the province of Ontario in Canada. It is part of the Great Lakes system and connects Lake Huron to Lake Erie.

How large is Lake St. Clair in terms of surface area?

Lake St. Clair covers an approximate surface area of about 430 square miles (1,100 square kilometers). It is relatively shallow compared to the surrounding Great Lakes.

What is the significance of Lake St. Clair for transportation and commerce?

Lake St. Clair serves as a vital link in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway system. It provides a navigable waterway for shipping and commerce, connecting the upper Great Lakes to the lower Great Lakes and beyond, contributing to regional trade and transportation.

What recreational activities are popular on Lake St. Clair?

Lake St. Clair is a popular destination for recreational activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, and birdwatching. It is known for its diverse fish population, making it a favorite spot for anglers.

What environmental concerns are associated with Lake St. Clair?

Lake St. Clair faces various environmental challenges, including water quality issues related to pollution and invasive species. Zebra and quagga mussels, for example, have impacted the lake’s ecosystem. Efforts are ongoing to address these concerns and protect the health of the lake.

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