Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1850-07-26
American Lakes.


THE smaller lakes of America, whose wild
and solitary shores attract the tourist, have
some singular physical peculiarities. One of
the early explorers of its northen regions, Sir
Alexander Mackenzie, was the first to notice
the attractive power of the mud at the bottom,
which is sometimes so great, that boats can
with difficulty proceed along the surface
This extraordinary fact is thus stated " At
the portage or carrying place Of Martres, Rose
Lake, the water is only three or four feet deep
and the bottom is muddy. have often plum
ged into it pole twelve feet long, with as
much ease as ifI merely plunged it into the
water. Nevertheless, this mud has magic
al effect upon the boats, which is such that
the paddles can with difficulty urge them on.
This effect IS not Porceptible on the south
side of the lake, where the water is deep, but
is more and more sensible as you approach
the opposite shore. | have cen assured that
loaded boats have often been in danger of
sinking, and could only be extricated by be-
ing towed by lighter boats. As for myself
Ihaye never cen danger o. laundering, but
have several tines had great difficulty in pas
sing this spot with six stout rowers, whose
utmost efforts could scarcely overcome the at
traction Of the mud \ similar phenomenon
is observed on Lake Saginaga, whose bottom
attracts the boats with such force that it is
only with the greatest difficulty that loaded
boat can be made to adyuce; fortunately this
spot is only four hundred feet over" This
statement has received confirmation from the
experience of Captain Back, during the recent
arctic land expeditions. \ part of Lake HUI
ron, likewise, in the the same district, ap-
pears to be the centre Of a remarkable cleo
trical attraction. Their IS bay in the lake,
over which the atmosphere is constantly high
ly charged with electricity, and it has been
affirmed that no person has ever traversed it
without hearing peals Of thunder.
Lakes differ greatly in their color, clearness
and Depth 1t is difficult to account IN every
case for the tiuts of water. They are refer
able to variety Of causes. The geological
character OF the beds Of lakes, Of the surroun-
ding objects from which shadows are cast,
and Of the soil drained by them; their depth,
+ with the nature and quantity OF the subaqueous
vegetation, have influence in determining the
color of their waters. Those Of the Great
Bear Lake are i beautiful light blue, especial
ly in the vicinity of the primitive mountains
Of M'Tavish Bay, where they ar2 very trans
parent. A piece of white rag, when sunk
here, did not disappear till il had descended to
the depth Of ninety feet. This remarkable
transparency belongs to the waters Of Lake
Superior, which are 50 rcIluc;d that the fish
and rocks are distinctly visible at most extra
ordinary depths. These of lake Huron also
are brilliantly crystalline; and to voyager on
some Of the Scandinavian lakes, the density
of the medium on which he Is floating appears
little greater than that Of the atmosphere
So completely are the senses here sometimes
deceived, that the stranger has recoiIed IN in
voluntary alarm from his situation, impressed
with the idea ofbeiug about to be precipitate
among the rocks and chasms disclosed below
him.
Squam lake, is situated north Of Lake Win
nipiseogee, in New Hrn2sajre. 1t IS six
miles long and three wide, and lies at the bot
tom Of a deep and narrow ral.ey. surrounded by
I several mountainous elevations, except on the
side where it sends an inlet into Winnipise-
ogee. Itis romantic sheet Of water, and a
bounds in fine trout.