In 1873, the Clam Lake Canal was constructed between Lakes
Cadillac and Mitchell as a means of transporting timber to the
mills and rail lines in Cadillac. Soon after it was built, an
interesting phenomenon was observed. Soon after the winter
temperatures were consistently below freezing but before the lakes
were frozen, the canal would be covered with ice. However, after
the lakes froze, the canal would thaw and remain that way
throughout the winter.
11/21/2008 - The canal is frozen; the lake is
open.
12/14/2008 - The lake is frozen; the canal is
open.
The following explanation was found in the December 8, 2006
edition of the Cadillac News (used with permission):
'The first thing a person must understand, according to
Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist Tom Rozich, is
the physical properties of water. Water is most dense (heaviest) at
39 degrees F and lighter above and below this temperature.
Therefore, in the winter, the lighter (or cooler) water
molecules float to the top. As the weather gets cooler, the water
closest to the top freezes and then turns to ice.
“Because the canal is shallower, it has less volume and is able
to cool and freeze quicker,” Rozich said. “That is why ice forms on
the canal before the lakes.”
When the lakes catch up and start the freezing process, the warm
water on the bottom of the lake is then forced to leave, as the
growing ice cover moves the water. The water movement happens to be
toward the canal in the cases of lakes Mitchell and Cadillac.
“That warmer water forms a current through the canal which melts
the ice in the canal,” Rozich said. “And the canal stays open all
winter long, although there might be some ice near the shore when
it hits 10 below.”'
While we would like to have you post a picture of yourself with the
frozen canal and thawed lake in the background or, optionally, a
thawed canal and frozen lake, we realize that it would only be
possible at certain times of the year. Therefore, to claim credit
for this cache, please:
- Post a photo on the cache page of your
team and GPSr with the canal in the background.
- E-mail us the following information:
1)The approximate width of the canal and 2) the direction the canal
is flowing. Except for a short time each year, a small twig thrown
into the canal will indicate its slow movement towards one of the
two lakes; Lake Cadillac or Lake Mitchell.
If you do not post a picture and email
the answers to #2, your log will be deleted.