Emily Chan
Previously, in 2001, similar depressions were found at the bottom of Lake Huron, which borders Michigan and Canada.
They turned out to be sinkholes. Sinkholes form when groundwater dissolves bedrock, causing the surface layer to give way. They can be found on land and underwater.
Part of Lake Michigan sits on limestone, which is prone to dissolving. So, it’s likely that the newfound craters on the lakebed are sinkholes as well.
More research needs to be done before some people feel comfortable enough to refer to the circles as sinkholes.
“I think they might be more accurately called craters, which have formed in the deep bottom sediment due either to water upwelling from below or trapped hydrocarbon off-gassing,” said Baillod.
According to the recent survey, no water escaped from the holes, which would indicate there is groundwater beneath the lakebed. However, it is believed the researchers will eventually detect some.
Images and video footage of the holes showed various creatures swimming around in the holes, such as small fish, freshwater shrimp, and invasive quassa mussels.
The researchers don’t really know what kind of impact the holes might be having on Lake Michigan, but they are hopeful that additional explorations over the years will reveal more information.
