| Big Bay de Noc | |
|---|---|
 In the foreground isSnail Shell Harbor and in the background isSand Bay, both of which are bays ofBig Bay de Noc. | |
  Big Bay de Noc  Big Bay de Noc | |
| Coordinates | 45°47′N86°42′W / 45.783°N 86.700°W /45.783; -86.700 |
| Type | Bay |
| Surface elevation | 581 feet (177 m)[1] |
Big Bay de Noc is a bay in theUpper Peninsula of theU.S. state ofMichigan. The bay, which opens intoLake Michigan'sGreen Bay, is enclosed byDelta County. TheGarden Peninsula is on the east side of the bay and theStonington Peninsula is on the west side. The small Delta County settlements ofGarden andNahma are harbors on the shore of the bay.[2]
As with the more thickly-settledLittle Bay de Noc, the bay's name comes from theNoquet (orNoc)Native American people (thought to have been related to theMenominee of theAlgonquian language group), who once lived along the shores.
The bay is historically important for its 19th-century use as a center of the Lake Michiganiron smelting industry. A former smelting complex has been preserved asFayette State Park. The state park'sSnail Shell Harbor, off Big Bay de Noc, offers a harbor of refuge for small boats and yachts.
A lighthouse, thePeninsula Point Light, marks the entrance of the bay.[2]
 
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