What are the strong currents in lakes?
What are the strong currents in lakes? In the Great Lakes, swimmers are most likely to encounter one of five common currents: rip, outlet (river channel), longshore, channel, and structural.
What is undertow in a lake?
Undertow is a natural and universal feature for almost any large body of water; it is a return flow compensating for the onshore-directed average transport of water by the waves in the zone above the wave troughs.
Do freshwater lakes have currents?
In the Great Lakes, there are permanent currents and variable currents. Permanent currents are always found in certain locations — and only vary in strength. For example, strong currents are always present along piers and breakwalls, and can be found where rivers and streams empty into the lake.
Is it risky to swim in a lake?
Lastly, many lakes across the world contain high levels of toxins or bacteria, which can be harmful to those who decide to take a dip. Many lakes in America are perfectly safe for swimmers, but these ones can be particularly hazardous and might warrant a second thought before plunging beneath the surface.
Are there strong currents in lakes?
Rip currents are strong currents that can pull you offshore into deeper water. Rip currents account for nearly half of current-related incidents on the Great Lakes. Outlet currents form near water outlets like river mouths. Never swim near water outlets, as the current can take you offshore into deeper water.