These 2 Michigan Lakes Rank Among America’s Deadliest

Treacherous undercurrents, rip currents, pollution and other factors cause Michigan to be home to two of the most dangerous lakes in the United States.

Not only are these two lakes dangerous, but they also rank among the deadliest in the nation.

According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, at least 8 people have drowned in Lake Michigan since the start of 2025. That's more than any other lake in the United States. The state of Michigan shares its namesake lake with Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin as well; so far, all of this year's drownings in Lake Michigan are reported to have occurred off those other states' shores.

Rip Currents and Undercurrents in Lake Michigan

What makes Lake Michigan so dangerous? Pondinformer.com points out that due to its shape and size, Lake Michigan is prone to dangerous rip currents and undercurrents that can surprise even the most skilled of swimmers.

Fatal Incidents in 2025

2025's deaths in Lake Michigan include an elderly man whose boat capsized in strong winds, and a man who attempted to swim after his boat that had drifted out while he fished from the shore.

READ MORE: Gales of November Sweep Across Lake Michigan (VIDEO)

Pondinformer.com ranks Lake Michigan as the most dangerous lake in America; as does usabynumbers.com. A similar survey by insidermonkey.com lists Lake Michigan at #4.

The smallest of the Great Lakes, Lake Erie is still treacherous enough to land on several lists of the nation's most dangerous lakes.

READ MORE: 2 Michigan Lakes Named Among Most Polluted in America

While drownings can and do occur in Lake Erie, they tend to happen less frequently compared to the much larger Lake Michigan. Lake Erie's main cause of danger is different.

Lake Erie’s Seasonal Algae Blooms

Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes, which allows it to warm and cool more quickly than the others. The warming each summer is one of the factors that contributes to a massive annual algae bloom in the middle of the lake, which has choked off the fresh water and caused much of Lake Erie to be uninhabitable for fish, mussels or any other sorts of wildlife for more than a half-century. According to pondinformer.com, other factors include increased levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in the lake due to runoff from a variety of sources.

Impact on Drinking Water and Wildlife

The algae bloom is also responsible for creating biotoxins that can be harmful to humans - especially problematic in regard to water purification, since millions rely on Lake Erie as a drinking water supply.

Insidermonkey.com ranks Lake Erie as the 8th most dangerous lake in the United States, while pondinformer.com puts it at #12.