Big Lake vs Hanging Horn Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Big Lake has a higher water quality grade (A, Excellent) than Hanging Horn Lake (D, Poor). Both are in Carlton County, Minnesota.
A
Big Lake
Carlton County, Minnesota
Good clarity, visible to about 11.8 ft.
D
Hanging Horn Lake
Carlton County, Minnesota
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Big Lake | Hanging Horn Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | A (Excellent) | D (Poor) |
| Water Clarity | 11.8 ft | 6 ft |
| Phosphorus | 12 µg/L | No data |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.1 µg/L | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft | 80 ft |
| Surface Area | 526.42 acres | 408.66 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 9 | 11 |
| Trophic State | mesotrophic | eutrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Big Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade A versus Hanging Horn Lake's Grade D. Water clarity: 11.8 ft vs 6 ft. For more fish-species variety, Hanging Horn Lake edges ahead with 11 documented species.