Orchard Lake

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Orchard Lake
Location	Oakland County, Michigan
Coordinates	42°35′18″N, 83°22′1″WCoordinates: 42°35′18″N, 83°22′1″W
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	795 acres (3.2 km²)
Max. depth	110 ft (34 m)
Islands	Apple Island, Cedar Island
Settlements	Orchard Lake Village

Orchard Lake is a medium-sized inland lake, 795 acres (3.2 km²). It has a 110 feet (34 m) maximum depth and is in the city of Orchard Lake Village, Oakland County, in Michigan, USA. It is the second-largest lake in Oakland County after Cass Lake.

The lake is unusual in that there is a large 35 acre (142,000 m²) island in the middle of the lake, Apple Island. The island was frequently inhabited by local Native Americans before the coming of Western settlers, who later planted an apple orchard on the island, giving rise to the current name of the lake. Apple Island is now abandoned and has been designated a protected wildlife sanctuary. The small Cedar Island is near the western shore.

The campus of the old Michigan Military Academy is on the northeast shore of the lake. The campus is now home to SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary and St. Mary's Preparatory.

[edit] External links

• Michigan DNR map of Orchard LakePDF (500 KiB)

At one point there was a hotel located on the island and the basement of the hotel is still visible today. Also Cheif Pontiac was supposedly barried on the island after his death. Today you can go take a tour on the island and see the hotel basement and old sites of Native American campfire pits.