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The Prettiest Lake in New Jersey

Going to a lake is a great way for Americans to soak up the sun during the summer months. What’s really easy about visiting a lake is that it’s a…

Going to a lake is a great way for Americans to soak up the sun during the summer months. What's really easy about visiting a lake is that it's a lot more attainable than going to the ocean for a lot of Americans. According to the NOAA, in the U.S., 127 million people live in coastal counties, which sounds like a big number, and it is, especially considering that it's as much as the population of Japan. However, "though home to almost 40% of the U.S. population, coastal areas account for less than 10% of the total land in the contiguous United States." In that spirit, one of our state's lakes is being recognized as one of the most beautiful in the country.

America is Filled With Gorgeous Lakes

The coastal areas of the U.S. are packed with people, which often makes ocean beaches crowded. That's not to mention that going to an ocean beach, one also runs into plenty of vacationers with similar plans. "Coastal areas are also far more crowded than the U.S. as a whole; population density is over five times greater in coastal shoreline counties than the U.S. average," the NOAA states, adding that, "this means that issues that affect the coasts affect a large proportion of Americans."

Here's where lakes come in. Visiting a lake can be a super fun, relaxing getaway and just as pleasurable as being at the ocean. It's even better if that lake is really pretty.

The crew at Reader's Digest has put together a tally of the prettiest lakes in the U.S. "From the vast Great Lakes to small spring-fed wonders, and from alpine watering holes to man-made reservoirs, these are the prettiest lakes in the country—and some of the best-kept secrets in every state," they state.

For New Jersey, they named the No. 1 best lake in the state as Sunfish Pond, located on the Kittatinny Ridge within Worthington State Forest. "This teeny glacial lake might be best known for its proximity to the famed Appalachian Trail, one of the best hikes in America, but that’s not all it has to offer," Reader's Digest states. They love the lake's pristine waters, rocky shores and dense forest surroundings."

Anne Erickson started her radio career shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and has worked on-air in Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Lansing and beyond. As someone who absolutely loves rock, metal and alt music, she instantly fell in love with radio and hasn’t looked back. When she’s not working, Anne makes her own music with her band, Upon Wings, and she also loves cheering on her favorite Detroit and Michigan sports teams, especially Lions and MSU football. Anne is also an award-winning journalist, and her byline has run in a variety of national publications. You can also hear her weekends on WRIF.