New Findings Confirmed: 40 Huge Craters at the Bottom of Lake Michigan

A Mysterious Discovery Leaves Scientists Intrigued

Researchers have confirmed the existence of 40 enormous craters at the bottom of Lake Michigan. These peculiar features were initially spotted via sonar imaging in 2022, leaving experts puzzled due to their strange likeness to circles. After further investigation, it seems the circles are vast holes. However, the process behind their formation remains a mystery.

Mapping Lake Michigan

Back in 2022, scientists embarked on a project to map the bed of Lake Michigan, specifically inside the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary. This sanctuary is a protected segment of Lake Michigan known to contain 36 shipwrecks with the likelihood of harboring many more. During the mapping project, bizarre circles appeared on the map. According to Russ Green, a maritime archaeologist involved in the project, these circles seemed to be natural as opposed to man-made, suggesting depressions in the lake bed.

Mysterious Craters in Numbers

Local shipwreck hunter Brendon Baillod was among those who first spotted these mysterious circles, identifying them as depressions or craters between 20 to 40 feet deep. “There were dozens of them in our search grid,” he commented. Most were observed to be between 500 to 1,000 feet in diameter, with irregular shapes.

Confirming the Craters

After some time, the researchers from the original mapping expedition together with the team at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) were able to conduct a collaborative survey to investigate these circles further. Using a remotely-operated vehicle, they finally confirmed the discoveries as huge naturally-formed craters and counted approximately 40 of them, believing there may still be more left undiscovered.

What do These Craters Mean?

The craters, described as ‘perfect, little circles’ on the lakebed by researcher Steve Ruberg, extend from southeast of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, southwards in a line toward Port Washington. Similar depressions previously found at the bottom of Lake Huron turned out to be sinkholes, caused by groundwater dissolving the bedrock from below leading to a collapse of the surface layer. As part of Lake Michigan is situated over limestone, which is prone to dissolution, it is presumed that these craters are also sinkholes.

Pondering the Purpose of the Craters

While some are already labeling these peculiar circles as sinkholes, others, like Baillod, are more cautious. He believes that they could better be named as craters; formed due to sediment disruption from beneath or trapped hydrocarbon off-gassing. Images from the recent survey showed the presence of freshwater shrimp, small fish, and invasive quagga mussels living inside these craters.

As to the impact that these holes might be having on Lake Michigan’s ecosystem, that is still unclear. However, the team is positive that they will find the answers in time. As Green noted, “We’ll be exploring them for years to come to learn more, and sort out how they got there and what role they play in Lake Michigan’s ecosystem.”

Author: STAFF HERE NOVI WRITER

NOVI STAFF WRITER The NOVI STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENovi.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Novi, Oakland County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Motor City Comic Con, Michigan State Fair, and Novi Home and Garden Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Novi Chamber of Commerce and Novi Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in automotive, technology, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Gentherm, Stoneridge, and Daifuku North America. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.