Introduction
For centuries, rumours have labelled parts of the Great Lakes of North America as home to underwater creatures. The legends—or folklore—have usually referred to iconic creatures like sea monsters, serpents and other such creatures. However, in more recent years, people often wonder whether whales—namely humpbacks—are occasionally to be found in Lake Superior. Is the possibility of having whales in the lake real, or simply a tall tale?
Data
The majority of experts (including the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature) would be quick to tell you that no, Lake Superior does not have whales. These mammals are more typically found in oceans, with some species living in large freshwater rivers and other deep lakes (i.e. in Siberia).
However, there have been select sightings of whales in the Great Lakes that have been acknowledged and supported by photographic evidence—the most recent being a Humpback Whale in 2011. While research on the subject is limited, the rate of sightings over the past few decades is increasing.
Perceptions of the Public
Due to the limited research, a majority of the public would have very similar, if not the same, opinion as the experts: that whales are unlikely to be found in Lake Superior. After all, from a logical perspective, the lake is simply not large enough or deep enough for these creatures to survive and breed.
However, due to the increasing number of sightings and photographic evidence, an ever-growing number of people out there are beginning to challenge those notions and take a more open-minded approach to the idea. After all, whales were here in the past, before the industrialisation of the Great Lakes, so why can’t they be there now?
Experts’ Perspectives
The experts themselves have mixed opinions and insights on the matter. While some would insist that deep-water fish, lake sturgeon and muskellunge are echoes of the lake’s majestic past, others are more open to the idea of whales and other large mammals identifying the lake as their home.
Part of the scientists’ caution may be related to the amount of pollutants that have accumulated in the lake over the years. Research suggests that these pollutants have had an adverse impact on the quality of water in Lake Superior, which can cause all sorts of related health issues. In addition to this, it is believed that the pollutants could possibly interfere with the marine mammal’s sensory abilities, including sonar.
Other Factors At Play
Accompanying the lack of experts who are open to the idea of whales inhabiting Lake Superior are more practical considerations that could also play into the equation. For example, it is believed by some experts that food could be a limiting factor for any whales living in the lake, as the nutrient supply has been severely depleted in recent years.
The fact that the frequency of sightings seems to be on the rise could also be attributed to the changing climatic conditions in the region. Warmer temperatures could potentially be causing whales to venture further inland, in search of a suitable territory and optimal conditions in which to hide.
Conclusion
Whether or not whales have been—or planto be—found living in Lake Superior remains a mystery. While the prospects are slim, the possibility of this happening cannot be ignored. Studies are ongoing, and research conducted in the future is likely to yield more accurate results.
Historical Presence
As can be seen, there is much to be said for the possibility of whales inhabiting Lake Superior. The lake’s past provides some evidence of this, as historical records from the 1600s to 1814 were full of accounts of lodges, traders, and missionaries who reported sightings of whales. These sightings were doubly confirmed some two hundred years later, in the 1930s, when thousands of Beluga Whales were spotted in the St. Lawrence River system which connects to Lake Superior.
These remain the only confirmed sightings of whales in the Great Lakes to date. Although the evidence is admittedly scant, scrutiny of records suggests that whales were regular inhabitants of the Great Lakes until the mid-1800s. This would suggest that—at least in the past—whales were able to survive and even thrive in such a large, freshwater body of water.
Environmental Impact
Another potential effect of having whales in Lake Superior is the impact that their presence could potentially have on the environment. The lake is already severely polluted and the presence of these large mammals could further deteriorate the lake’s water quality and make it habitable. Both benthic and pelagic species could be adversely affected, with lasting ecological damage as a result.
While this would present a serious challenge to the lake’s ecosystem and its inhabitants, it could also be seen as a wake-up call to the local community, who might then take more active steps in preventing and reversing the damage that has been done.
Benefits
Conversely, the presence of whales in Lake Superior could also have an incalculably positive effect. For one thing, such a vast, deep lake, connected to two oceans (via the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes systems), could act as a safe haven for whales – and other large mammals – which would perhaps buoy the local conservation efforts, encourage environmental responsibility and even drive tourism initiatives.
This unique and rare event could be celebrated as an extraordinary discovery and opportunity to acquire knowledge, that could potentially be shared globally. Since there are very few lakes in the world that could potentially allow for the presence of whales, it is not completely outside the bounds of possibility that Lake Superior could eventually become one of them.
