The Lake Border Moraine is a complex group of moraines bordering the southern end of Lake Michigan. It can be traced north along the eastern shore of the lake basin and across the highlands between the northern Lake Michigan and Saginaw Bay. It continues around the Saginaw Basin into the " thumb " of Michigan, and south through southeastern Michigan on the eastern side of the "thumb." Along Lake Michigan, north to Hollandthe system is close to the shore. From Holland north to Oceana County it is to east of the shore. In Oceana County it forms the prominent "clay banks" along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. It again bears inland from Hart, where more recent moraines reside between it and Lake Michigan. It runs north of the great interlobate moraine that exists between the Lake Michigan and Saginaw lobes of the Laurentian ice sheet. A little north of Cadillacturns to the east. A short distance from Cadillac, it splits with the southern ridge or outer member heading to the Saginaw basin. The northern ridge heads towards Lake Huron, but turns south before reaching the shore. In Newaygo and Lake counties it rest on an earlier interlobate moraine. It separates in Wexford and Missaukee counties to continue south along the west side of the Saginaw basin.
Topography
The outer members of the Lake Border morainic system reach their greatest height immediately north and west of Cadillac, where they attain an altitude of above sea level. The outermost ridge for west from the line of Missaukee and Wexford counties stands above. The south the ridge declines from here, but much of it is above. South of Big Rapids there are a few high spots above. These continue south to Baldwin. The ridges south of Muskegon River are just under. The steep declines become more gradual towards the south near South Haven where the lake ridges are less than above sea level. The ridge runs west across Oceana County nearly to Lake Michigan. It has high points of above sea level and some areas above. This is more than above Lake Michigan The inner ridge is highest in the north near Gaylord. Here, it is nearly high. It lowers steadily to the southwest, but remains above the through Antrim and Kalkaska counties. It remains above through Kalkaska, and drops to as it passes through Grand Traverse County. To the south, it remains near through Grand Traverse County and on to Manistee County. South of Manistee River the ridges on the inner border fall below with the general surface below
Relief
Near Cadillac the ridges have a relief of or more above the outwash plain in Wexford County. The inner border is to in Wexford County and about in Lake and Newaygo counties. West from Newaygo County and across Oceana County, the relief is or more above the plains. A slender moraines south from the Muskegon River is less than, become barely above the lake at its south end
