There are many maritime legends and myths involving the Great Lakes and Lake Michigan is no exception. Lake Michigan has stories about violent storms, shipwrecks, strange atmospheric phenomena, mysterious disappearances, lake monsters, UFOs, and an underwater megalithic stone structure known as the "Lake Michigan Stonehenge". Along with paranormal phenomena, the many unsolved disappearances on Lake Michigan have created an urban legend known as the "Lake Michigan Triangle".
    Stories involving natural phenomena are the most easily explained. Shipwrecks due to violent storms, the Chicago skyline mirage seen in Michigan from across the lake, and the town eating sand dunes along the shore plainly have rational explanations. The underwater stone structure is most likely a prehistoric drive line used for herding caribou during a hunt and not Stonehenge as it was named. The area was likely above water during the last glacial period, so nothing too strange about that. However, not every story is so easily explained away.
    On April 28, 1937, Captain Donner vanished from his cabin on the lake freighter named the O.M. McFarland. After Captain Donner guided the freighter through the locks and entered Lake Michigan, he went to his cabin to sleep, leaving instructions to call him when they neared Port Washington. Three hours later, as the freighter was nearing the port, the second mate went to wake the captain. The Captain's door was locked from the inside. After breaking in, the mate discovered the cabin was empty. A search was called, but the captain was nowhere to be found on the ship.
    On March 8, 1994, in West Michigan, flickering lights resembling airplanes flying in close formation were reported to authorities by 911 callers. The callers asked about low-flying planes, military activity, and anything else they could think of to explain the sightings.
    In a call between police and the National Weather Service, an officer says "We've had about 60 UFO calls". The NWS operator says "I'm getting it now at about 12,000 feet, it's a pretty strong return. Oh my God, what is this? Now I'm getting three of them and uh, there about separated by about 5,000 feet in height. I'm seeing three, they look like a triangle on my scope. I've never seen anything like this, not even when I'm doing storms . . .These aren't storms."
    Feb 23, 2017, The Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) investigated reports that a triangular-shaped UFO was seen emerging from Green Bay near Little Suamico, in Wisconsin, before flying off. The object was said to be 100 to 150 feet in length and was seen at 2.10 am local time on November 28. " . . . they witnessed a triangular-shaped object fly out of the water of Green Bay, traveling at approximately 35 knots. It was so close that they could hear a muffled jet sound. As it came out of the water it turned on its side as it traveled west and gained elevation."
    Of course, there are more unexplained stories about the lake named after our Great Lakes state. There are certainly enough strange stories about Lake Michigan to classify it as mysterious Comment about this article on the Epress Forum Board .

    Le Nain Rouge, French for "The Red Dwarf", is a character from an old Detroit legend that goes back to Native American tribal myths. Our present version of the story claims that the Ottawa tribe, who had once inhabited the region, believed it was a protector of the area and the son (or "foul offspring") of their stone god. The early French inhabitants of the settlement at Detroit feared it as a "harbinger of doom." In more modern times it is considered a cause for most of the problems that plague the city.
    Although a study of the local native myths hadn't brought up any connection to the legend of Le Nain Rouge, an origin myth can be ascertained. The native pantheon of spirits and beings didn't have a "stone god" as stated in the modern story, however, they did have stone giants. These stone giants were essentially evil magicians that were cannibals. The natives also had "little people" who were beneficial to the tribes. These small-sized "little Indians" are considered the enemy of the stone giants. These little people are very old, often found near water, and can be tricksters as well as benefactors. It may be possible that Le Nain Rouge was a love child conceived by a little person and a stone giant. A foul offspring with the worst attributes of both parents. That would explain its proximity to the Detroit River, its small size, distorted looks, and evil disposition.
    The first written account was in 1883 by Marie Caroline Watson Hamlin in her book, "Legends of le Detroit". The book states that in 1701 Monsieur La Mothe Cadillac, the French founder of Detroit, encountered Le Nain Rouge near the Detroit River and described it as stated below.
    "Suddenly across their path, trotting along the beach, advanced the uncouth figure of a dwarf, very red in the face, with a bright, glistening eye. Instead of burning it froze. Instead of possessing depth, it emitted a cold gleam like the reflection from a polished surface, bewildering and dazzling all who came within its focus. A grinning mouth displaying sharp, pointed teeth, completed this strange face." After that encounter Cadillac's fortunes took a bad turn, and he was eventually recalled to France, losing his trade, his property, and all his privileges.
    Le Nain Rouge is also said to have appeared in 1763 before the Battle of Bloody Run where 58 British soldiers were killed by the Ottawa tribe. Witnesses claimed to have seen the Nain Rouge dancing among the dead bodies after the battle. It's interesting to note that the native myths say that little people were often seen dancing when encountered.
    Multiple sightings of the Red Dwarf occurred in the days before the 1805 fire that destroyed most of Detroit.
    General William Hull reported being attacked by a dwarf just before he surrendered Detroit in the War of 1812.
    A woman claimed to have been attacked by Le Nain Rouge in 1884. She described the creature as, "a baboon with a horned head ... brilliant restless eyes and a devilish leer on its face." Perhaps she had read the book "Legends of le Detroit" shortly after it was published.. Comment about this article on the Epress Forum Board .