The Lowest and Deepest Points in Michigan

I know what you might be thinking: "How can a body of water be the lowest place in Michigan?" I, like you, wondered the same thing, but according to multiple sources, including the United States Geological Survey (USGS), and yes, it is a Great Lake.

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To be clear, we are talking about the lowest geographic point in Michigan, not the deepest, which only raises more questions. Before we get to the lowest, let's tackle a couple of Michigan's manmade holes.

Michigan's Deepest Manmade Holes

According to Mindat.org, the deepest well ever drilled in Michigan reached a depth of 17,466, or more than 3.3 miles, in October 1975. Located in Gratiot County just outside Ithaca and referred to as the Michigan Basin Deep Drill Hole, it was eventually capped once the oil and natural gas had been exhausted.

According to the National Park Surface, the deepest mine in Michigan is Quincy Mine in the Keweenaw Peninsula's Copper Harbor. In 1908, at the peak of the state's copper boom, the No. 2 shaft, built at an angle at a distance of over 9,000 feet, reached a maximum depth of 6,225 feet, or 1.17 miles below sea level. Still, geographically, it's not Michigan's lowest point.

The Lowest Geographical Point in Michigan

If you're looking for Michigan's lowest point from a geographic and topographical standpoint, you may be surprised (as I was) to discover that the closest point the state gets to sea level is 571 feet above it—and it's a lake—a Great Lake at that. Which one? Well, it's also the shallowest of them all.

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Michigan's lowest geographic point is Lake Erie, which may explain why you don't see hilly beaches along its shorelines. But don't underestimate this mighty body of water; despite only reaching a max depth of 210 feet, it's a vital part of the Michigan ecosystem and a main artery for commerce.