Michelle's claim is incorrect because she has overlooked the fact that the Salton Sea has a negative elevation. The two lakes closest to sea level are Lake Pontchartrain and the Salton Sea.
Michelle's reasoning is indeed flawed as she failed to consider the negative elevation of the Salton Sea, which indicates that it is below sea level.
This oversight significantly impacts the accuracy of her conclusion regarding the lakes closest to sea level.
To rectify this, a thorough examination of the elevations is necessary.
According to the provided information, the Salton Sea has an elevation of -31 feet, signifying its position below sea level.
On the other hand, Lake Pontchartrain has an elevation of 0 feet.
In the context of determining proximity to sea level, lower elevations are indicative of lakes being closer to sea level.
Given this, the Salton Sea, with its negative elevation, is the lake closest to sea level.
Lake Pontchartrain follows closely behind with an elevation of 0 feet.
This conclusion is supported by a mathematical perspective that emphasizes the significance of negative elevations in determining the relative positions of lakes.
Therefore, Michelle's oversight of the negative elevation of the Salton Sea is crucial in understanding which lakes are truly closest to sea level.