Northeast Ohioans can’t get enough of fun on the water.
From splashing around in Lake Erie to kayaking the Cuyahoga River, we take serious pride in our waterways. But the myth that the state is home to only man-made lakes and reservoirs is so pervasive, that message board posters on sites such as Quora and OhioSportsman.com still ask if it’s true.
While we’re not exactly Minnesota (the land of 10,000 lakes), Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Natural Areas and Preserves chief botanist Rick Gardner says the myth is beyond bogus.
Using ODNR’s definition of a lake — a deep enough body of water to have different temperature zones and be wide enough to have wave action — there are 110 natural lakes larger than 5 acres, according to a 1991 ODNR study.
“Most of our natural lakes were formed by glaciers over 10,000 years ago,” Gardner says.
Whether it’s the 101-acre Punderson Lake in Geauga County or the 324-acre Chippewa Lake in Medina County, Gardner says it’s important for people to know that Ohio has natural lakes because they’re part of natural history and are home to rare flora and fauna.
Especially, he says, since it’s a myth he once believed himself.
“I grew up in southwest Ohio and didn’t learn about Ohio having natural lakes until probably college or maybe even after I graduated,” he says. “I always thought Ohio just had reservoirs or man-made lakes.”
Status: Busted
Read More: Click here to read the full list of 30 Myths That Define Cleveland
CLE Myths: Ohio's Natural Lakes
Does Ohio really only have man-made lakes?
