Some of North America's lakes, featuring numerous islands, have at least part or all of them within the United States. According to WorldAtlas, these lakes contain anywhere from 70 to roughly 30,000 islands, though exact figures vary depending on how islands are counted.
Formation of Island-Rich Lakes
The creation of most of these islands can be attributed to the formation of deep basins in rock by glaciation, followed by elevated ridges left above the water after the ice melted. Lakes such as Ouachita in Arkansas were formed through the building of dams. Together, they form some of the most striking freshwater geographies in the world.
Lake Huron, Michigan and Ontario
Lake Huron tops the chart with about 30,000 islands. The majority of them lie in Georgian Bay, in Ontario, which is considered the largest freshwater archipelago in the world. In addition to the numerous islands, one of them, known as Manitoulin Island, is the largest freshwater island in the world. According to reports, there are over 100 lakes on Manitoulin Island.
Lake of the Woods, Minnesota, Ontario and Manitoba
Lake of the Woods extends into regions of the US and Canada, where, according to reports, it has around 14,552 islands. The odd geography of the lake played an important role in shaping the Northwest Angle, the most northerly point in the contiguous US. The Northwest Angle was claimed by the United States due to mapping errors during negotiations for the 1783 Treaty of Paris. Currently, certain areas can only be accessed from Minnesota via Canada or winter ice roads.
Rainy Lake, Minnesota and Ontario
Rainy Lake is an area comprising over 500 islands and situated along the border dividing Minnesota and Ontario. As per reports, the lake was part of a key fur-trade trail utilised by the voyageurs who passed from Lake Superior to the interior of Canada. Reports further indicate that evidence of the Rainy Lake Gold Rush during the 1890s can still be found on Little American Island in the form of abandoned mine shafts.
Lake Superior, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ontario
Despite the lack of a widely accepted number of islands in Lake Superior, reports note that the estimated number is more than 400. Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake by surface area and has numerous famous island groups, such as Isle Royale National Park and Wisconsin's Apostle Islands. In addition, Isle Royale National Park itself has many islands around it.
Lake Vermilion, Minnesota
Unlike several other lakes featured in the article, Lake Vermilion is entirely in the U.S. As noted, it has 365 islands and is located in northeastern Minnesota for 40 miles. Originally, the lake was used by French fur traders in the 17th century. Later, Lake Vermilion was related to the beginning of Minnesota's iron ore industry. The neighbouring Soudan Mine became the first iron mine in Minnesota.
Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire
Lake Winnipesaukee is situated in central New Hampshire and is believed to have about 264 islands. According to reports, the actual number of islands varies depending on whether rock formations are counted. Lake Winnipesaukee's floating mail delivery tradition dates back to 1892, while the M/V Sophie C has served the route since 1969.
Lake Ouachita, Arkansas
Unlike the glaciers that occur in the north, Lake Ouachita is not naturally formed; it is a man-made reservoir created after the construction of the Blakely Mountain Dam in 1953. According to reports, the formation of the lake resulted from the flooding of a forest-filled valley, leaving more than 200 hilltops above water as islands. It is also characterised by its exceptionally clear water, quartz crystals, and purple martins, whose numbers are significant enough for them to show up on weather radar systems.
Kabetogama Lake, Minnesota
Located close to the Canadian border, Kabetogama Lake has about 200 islands, according to reports. This lake is one of the components of Voyageurs National Park, where access to the area can only be made by boat. Reportedly, this area was extensively used by French-Canadian voyageurs for ferrying their goods via linked lakes and rivers.
Lake George, New York
It is said that Lake George of the Adirondacks region of New York state has in excess of 170 islands, most of which are located in a central part of the lake referred to as The Narrows. According to reports, this lake was once referred to as the "most beautiful water I ever saw" by Thomas Jefferson, who made the comment while travelling through the area in 1791.
Lake Champlain, Vermont and New York
Lake Champlain, which stretches between Vermont and New York and extends into Quebec, is said to have more than 70 islands. According to reports, most of the islands are located in the northern portion of the lake. The Battle of Valcour Island in 1776 was one of the first naval battles during the American Revolutionary War.
Why Island Totals Continue to Vary
As experts point out, the numbers may vary since there is no established standard definition of an island. According to WorldAtlas, some surveys include seasonal rock formations and tiny outcrops, while others count only permanently exposed land. However, regardless of how they came into existence, either through glacial activity, geological history, or man-made flooding, these lakes continue to remain among the most unique freshwater bodies in North America.
