{"id":8351,"date":"2023-11-14T08:51:11","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T07:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lakebeyond.com\/?p=8351"},"modified":"2023-11-14T08:51:11","modified_gmt":"2023-11-14T07:51:11","slug":"is-lake-huron-clean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lakebeyond.com\/is-lake-huron-clean\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Lake Huron Clean"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It is a common knowledge that Lake Huron is the fifth-largest body of fresh water in the world and many people depend on it for fishing, shipping, and other activities. From a population of several hundred thousand in Canada to those in the United States, countless people consider it an integral part of their life. The question on everyone’s mind is: Is Lake Huron clean?<\/p>\n

In examining this issue, we must first consider the natural history and geology of the lake. Lake Huron is the fourth of the five Great Lakes – featuring the Manitoba-Ontario Border and the Georgian Bay, forming part of the St. Lawrence Seaway system. It is classified as a Canadian Shield lake, having once been a single massive glacial landmass, eroded over time since the last ice age. It is made up of sedimentary rock and other organic material and in that sense, it is a natural eco-system, helping to trap pollutants, yet can eventually suffer from them due to its age and fragility.<\/p>\n

Industrialization, however, has had a strong influence on the Lake Huron ecosystem over the past few decades. Numerous factories, municipal and agricultural based operations sit along the lake’s shores, where the water is used as a destination for hazardous material disposal, or a source of raw materials. As pollution accumulates in the lake and its environment, it slowly damages its delicate balance.<\/p>\n

Harmful chemicals such as mercury and phosphorus have been the most significant sources of lake pollution. These toxins have made their way into the lake from industrial waste, run-off from agricultural operations and even from storm water. With an increase in development along the shorelines of the lake, it is no wonder that these toxins have begun to concentrate and slowly damage the water quality and the organisms that thrive within it.<\/p>\n