Sugar Sand

The Sand Dunes of West Michigan

The largest dune system in the world associated with a freshwater lake is right here in Michigan. The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Northern Michigan was voted by the viewers of Good Morning America as the most beautiful place in America. One of the spectacular sights is the sand dunes that peak at over 400 feet.

When glaciers covered Michigan, the deposits left behind were mostly made of quartz, and over time the constant movement of the water formed our sugar sand. In order for sand dunes to develop, you must have a large source of dry sand, the winds to transport it, and an area large enough for the dune to take hold. The dunes become covered with vegetation, which stabilizes them.

With 2,000 acres of moving sand, the Silver Lake Sand Dunes are the largest living dunes found along Lake Michigan.