Long Lake (Indiana)

Long Lake
Location of Long Lake in Indiana, USA.
Location of Long Lake in Indiana, USA.
Long Lake
Location of Long Lake in Indiana, USA.
Location of Long Lake in Indiana, USA.
Long Lake
LocationPorter County, Indiana
Coordinates41°36′55″N 87°12′43″W / 41.61528°N 87.21194°W / 41.61528; -87.21194
Typelake
Surface elevation604 feet (184 m)[1]

Long Lake is a large interdunal wetland in the Indiana Dunes region of Northwest Indiana. It was originally approximately 8 miles in length, but has been shortened due to development and drainage.[2] It has a surface area of 34 hectares, and a maximum depth of 1.8 meters.[3] There are three small islands, and the total shoreline length is 4.6 kilometers.[3]

Long Lake is bisected by a major local arterial road, County Line Road. The eastern portion of the lake lies in Porter County in the town of Ogden Dunes, and the western portion is in Lake County in the Miller Beach community. The vast majority of Long Lake is within the boundaries of the Indiana Dunes National Park, although a small area at the eastern end in Ogden Dunes is used by the American Water company for a water purification plant

Along the southern edge of the lake the Norfolk Southern railway, South Shore Line railway, and U.S. Route 12 highway run in parallel. The north side of Long Lake was formerly traversed by the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad. That railway has now been replaced by the Marquette Trail and Long Lake Trail, multi-use trails used by cyclists, hikers and birdwatchers.

  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Long Lake (Indiana)
  2. ^ Garza et al. 2002, p. 3.
  3. ^ a b Garza et al. 2002, p. 4.