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Houghton
Eden Index
Climate
6.1
•
Recreation
7.3
•
Community
2.7
•
Safeguard
5.7/10
Houghton, Michigan is a charming city located in the Upper Peninsula. Known for its unique climate and abundant outdoor recreation opportunities, it offers a diverse range of experiences for nature enthusiasts. The region experiences a humid continental climate, with long, cold winters and moderate summers. The area sees heavy snowfall during winter, making it a popular destination for winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling.
Houghton is also blessed with an abundance of water resources. It is surrounded by beautiful lakes, including Lake Superior, which provides opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming. The city is situated near the Keweenaw Waterway, offering picturesque views and opportunities for kayaking and canoeing.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Houghton boasts numerous trails for hiking and biking, with stunning views of forests, waterfalls, and rock formations. The area is also home to several state parks, such as McLain State Park and Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, where visitors can enjoy camping, wildlife viewing, and hiking on scenic trails.
In summary, Houghton, Michigan offers a unique climate, abundant water resources, and a wide range of outdoor recreation opportunities, making it a paradise for nature lovers.
What is the Eden Index?
The Snoflo Eden Index serves as a comprehensive rating system for regions, evaluating their desirability through a holistic assessment of climate health, outdoor recreation opportunities, and natural disaster risk, acknowledging the profound impact of these factors on livability and well-being.
Climate Health Indicator (CHI): 6.1
Houghton receives approximately
853mm of rain per year,
with humidity levels near 82%
and air temperatures averaging around
6°C.
Houghton has a plant hardyness factor of
5, meaning
plants and agriculture in this region thrive during a short period during spring and early summer. Most
plants will die off during the colder winter months.
By considering the ideal temperature range, reliable water supplies, clean air, and stable seasonal rain or snowpacks, the Climate Health Indicator (CHI) underscores the significance of a healthy climate as the foundation for quality living.
A healthy climate is paramount for ensuring a high quality of life and livability in a region, fostering both physical well-being and environmental harmony. This can be characterized by ideal temperatures, reliable access to water supplies, clean air, and consistent seasonal rain or snowpacks.
Weather Forecast
Streamflow Conditions
Lake Superior
Area Rivers
Lake Superior
Snowpack Depths
Lake Superior
Reservoir Storage Capacity
Lake Superior
Groundwater Levels
Recreational Opportunity Index (ROI): 7.3
The Recreational Opportunity Index (ROI) recognizes the value of outdoor recreational options, such as parks, hiking trails, camping sites, and fishing spots, while acknowledging that climate plays a pivotal role in ensuring the comfort and consistency of these experiences.
Access to outdoor recreational opportunities, encompassing activities such as parks, hiking, camping, and fishing, is crucial for overall well-being, and the climate plays a pivotal role in enabling and enhancing these experiences, ensuring that individuals can engage in nature-based activities comfortably and consistently.
Camping Areas
| Campground | Campsites | Reservations | Toilets | Showers | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Dale Lake Conservation Area | None | 493 ft | |||
| Charley Brown City Park | None | 487 ft | |||
| Clinton Lake State Rec Area | 310 | 725 ft | |||
| Coon Creek - Shelbyville Lake | 230 | 666 ft | |||
| Opossum Creek - Shelbyville Lake | 80 | 654 ft | |||
| Moraine View State Park | 200 | 853 ft | |||
| Jurgens City Park | None | 658 ft | |||
| Friends Creek Regional Park | 35 | 693 ft | |||
| Stephen A. Forbes State Park | 135 | 604 ft | |||
| Gibson City Park | 4 | 731 ft |
Nearby Ski Areas
Catastrophe Safeguard Index (CSI):
The Catastrophe Safeguard Index (CSI) recognizes that natural disaster risk, encompassing floods, fires, hurricanes, and tornadoes, can drastically affect safety and the overall appeal of an area.
The level of natural disaster risk in a region significantly affects safety and the overall livability, with climate change amplifying these risks by potentially increasing the frequency and intensity of events like floods, fires, hurricanes, and tornadoes, thereby posing substantial challenges to community resilience and well-being.
Community Resilience Indicator (CRI): 2.7
The Community Resilience Indicator (CRI) recognizes that education, healthcare, and socioeconomics are crucial to the well-being of a region. The CRI acknowledges the profound impact of these elements on residents' overall quality of life. By evaluating educational resources, healthcare accessibility, and economic inclusivity, the index captures the essential aspects that contribute to a thriving community, fostering resident satisfaction, equity, and social cohesion.