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U.S. Lake Naming Protocol

Last response: in News & Leisure
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August 12, 2013 11:40:28 AM

So I was doing my crossword the other day, and one of the clues had to do with a location based on a lake. That got me wondering...
Why are some U.S. lakes named "Lake so-and-so" and others named "so-and-so Lake"? Example: Lake Michigan, Lake Erie... as opposed to: Bear Lake, Crystal Lake...
I'm thinking it might have to do with size?

More about : lake naming protocol

August 13, 2013 8:32:00 AM

Hmm...

I guess it depends on the names origins and the people who named it.
Example: Pyramid Lake, in Nevada. The english name was given by an american.
But, you say "Lake Superior" because this name was given by a french;
In french grammar, adjective comes after the name. We don't say "a red hammer", but "a hammer red" ("un marteau rouge")
If Lake Superior wasn't names by a frog french, you may have call it "Upper Lake".
August 13, 2013 10:46:22 AM

All I know is that in Maine, virtually every body of water is referred to as a pond.
August 23, 2013 11:05:18 AM

gropouce said:
Hmm...

I guess it depends on the names origins and the people who named it.
Example: Pyramid Lake, in Nevada. The english name was given by an american.
But, you say "Lake Superior" because this name was given by a french;
In french grammar, adjective comes after the name. We don't say "a red hammer", but "a hammer red" ("un marteau rouge")
If Lake Superior wasn't names by a frog french, you may have call it "Upper Lake".


That's the best answer I've heard yet.
!