About the Lake:

A little bit of history and background here about the Big Lake:
The lake is actually so big that it really has two names
Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
Yep, thats right, it is really one large fresh water lake that has a an identity crisis.
You see if you look up "The Largest Fresh Water Lake in the World"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lakes_by_area
You will see that because some books and records count the lakes as two seperate lakes they would rank 3rd and 4th in size.
Anyone who crosses the Mackinac Bridge and looks down will never think they are crossing over a river.

About the Bridge:

The Mackinac Bridge is currently the third longest suspension bridge in the world.
In 1998, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan became the longest with a total suspension of 12,826 feet.
The Great Belt Bridge in Halsskov-Sprogoe, Denmark, which also opened in 1998, is the second longest suspension bridge in the world with a total suspension of 8,921 feet.
The Mackinac Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere. The total length of the Mackinac Bridge is 26,372 feet. The length of the suspension bridge (including anchorages) is 8,614 feet. The length from cable bent pier to cable bent pier is 7,400 feet. Length of main span (between towers) is 3,800 feet. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackinac_Bridge