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Exploring the Intersection of Lakescapes and Military History
1Department of Social Sciences, Michigan Technology University, USA; Environmental Governance and Territorial Development Hub, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Environment and Planning. E, Nature and Space
|July 10, 2026
Summary
Military training sites in freshwater lakes, like Lake Michigan and Lake Neuchâtel, have transformed landscapes and impacted ecosystems. These underwater munitions sites, though publicly known, receive less attention than terrestrial military areas.
Area of Science:
- Environmental History
- Military Geography
- Freshwater Ecology
Background:
- The militarization of landscapes is a growing research area.
- Environmental impacts of military activities on inland freshwater ecosystems, particularly from training, are under-examined.
- Underwater munitions sites from military training are a specific, overlooked aspect of militarized landscapes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address the research gap on environmental consequences of military training in inland freshwater bodies.
- To explore former military training targets and ranges in lakes as a typology of underwater munitions sites.
- To analyze the historical context, commonalities, and differences of these sites in Lake Michigan and Lake Neuchâtel.
Main Methods:
- Historical analysis of military training practices and their environmental impacts.
- Comparative study of underwater munitions sites in Lake Michigan (USA) and Lake Neuchâtel (Switzerland).
- Interdisciplinary approach integrating historical, environmental, and geographical perspectives.
Main Results:
- Military training activities in freshwater lakes were often public knowledge.
- These activities have demonstrable environmental consequences on lakescapes and freshwater bodies.
- Underwater military sites receive significantly less research attention compared to terrestrial counterparts.
Conclusions:
- Lakescapes have been historically transformed by military training activities.
- The environmental legacy of underwater munitions sites requires greater historical and scientific scrutiny.
- Effective management strategies for these submerged military sites are largely absent or insufficient.
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