How Far Across Is Lake Superior
Spanning an impressive 3,000 miles of shoreline and stretching 550 miles in length, Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world. Despite its size, many people are unsure just how far across the lake actually is. Thankfully, with significant data over the last century and the help of experts, we can approximate the size of Lake Superior and answer the question: How far across is Lake Superior?
Lake Superior is the deepest of the five Great Lakes, reaching depths of nearly 1600 feet where it meets Canada in the North. It is situated between the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba, as well as Wisconsin and Minnesota, in the USA. Data over the last century has varied, though certain figures remain fairly consistent. Determining the size of the lake depends upon its volume, surface area and dimensions.
From volume estimates of 2,900 cubic kilometers, the lake’s surface area spans 82,000 square kilometers, with a maximum length of 550 km and a maximum width of 257 km. Some experts estimate a distance of 250 km across the lake. That’s slightly shorter than the distance between Los Angeles and San Francisco in California, which is 332 miles across, or 533.8 km.
In order to capture the entire surface area of Lake Superior, resourceful scientists used footage from different satellites in space over several years, such as Landsat and MODIS, and even photographs taken by airplanes. This orbital imagery allows us to gain an aerial perspective of the lake, giving us an approximate surface area without the need for in-person surveying.
The images further back up the figures, revealing a maximum width of 257 km between Duluth, Minnesota, and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Distance from Point Iroquois to Two Harbors, Minnesota, is roughly 417 km. And from Munising, Michigan, to Hermantown, Minnesota, is a milder 205 km.
It’s clear that Lake Superior’s square footage reigns supreme among the other Great Lakes and other bodies of water in the world. It is the largest of the Great Lakes and third-largest body of freshwater in the world. Only the Caspian Sea, located between Russia, Kazakhstan and Iran, and Lake Victoria, in East Africa, are larger.
Lake Superior’s Novelty
The lake’s size is extremely compelling, and it’s no wonder that the stunning sights and unmistakable size of the lake attract millions of visitors each year. Those familiar with the lake’s size recognize the novelty and beauty it has to offer. From boat and fishing charters to sailing and Lake Superior vacations, travelers come from all over to experience the grandeur of this natural wonder.
The sheer size of the lake captivates the imagination. Sailors, fishers and pleasure boaters alike embark on journeys with the powerful notion of charting a course across such an immense body of water.
Conservation Efforts
Conservation efforts over the 20th and 21st centuries, such as the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and the Removal of DDT and PCBs, have helped restore the lake’s delicate balance of ecology. Pollutants have long been an issue for Lake Superior, as many sources feed directly into the lake’s watershed. Nevertheless, these interventions have enabled many species to flourish, from salmon and herring to sturgeon and siskin.
The Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area, for example, was created to protect the environment and sustain traditional activities, including recreational fishing, placer mining, cultural practices, and treaty rights. This applies to Canadians and Americans who use the water for research, education, commercial and recreational purposes.
The authority also works to protect wildlife and groundwater sources, while providing access to clean water and safe habitat. Although the government works to maintain boundaries in order to restrain human footfall, the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area is virtually untouched, with a safe haven for its native plants and wildlife.
Personal Experience
For travelers looking to appreciate the vastness of Lake Superior, a journey across the lake’s expanse provides a mesmerizing experience. One personally intriguing route is the Circle Tour that passes through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Ontario, Canada. The tour is 800 miles long, with fascinating ports, fishing villages and breathtaking vistas. The unmitigated awe of the lake’s shoreline, its hidden coves, crisp waters, and mystifying depths will not cease to inspire. Plus, the Circle Tour is a surefire way to witness the maximum breadth of the lake.
Delving even deeper into the waters of Lake Superior can be made possible with the help of experienced tour guides. Scenic charters and boat rides offer an unparalleled chance to discover the lake and its hidden treasures, such as old shipwrecks, rock formations and cliff-jumping sites. For a more secluded outing, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding offer a closer view of the mysterious depths of this enduring source of natural beauty.
The Depths of Lake Superior
For many who gaze upon this amazing feat of natural engineering, they may ponder how farfrom the lake’s edge one must drift before reaching its depths. In truth, the lake may appear only a few meters deep in some areas, while others range upward of 1,000 feet. Traversing the lake’s length and breadth also means encounters with shoals and drops. The western side of the lake drops off sharply, with a sheer 200-meter dropoff near Thunder Bay. Other side variations in the lake’s bottom are due to the effects of erosion, reefs and islands.
But the lake still does not suffer from waves as tall as the sea. Its massive volume and large surface area ensure gentle swells and a smoothing effect on any potential large waves. In the isolated nooks and crevices of the lakebed, there remains some mystery — that of 350 undiscovered shipwrecks rumored to lie at the bottom of the lake.
Aquatic Life of Lake Superior
Lake Superior is also home to an amazing variety of aquatic creatures, having an equally impressive collection of fish species numbering well over 70. Fish inhabiting the lake include muskellunge, trout, smallmouth bass, whitefish, walleye, yellow perch and cisco. The economic importance of these species is vital, as they constitute a significant source of income in the fisheries.
According to the Great Lakes Aquarium, the lake’s deep cold waters also contains a variety of interesting creatures, from nudibranchs and jellyfish to tiny crustaceans and salamanders. There’s even evidence of rare species like the foot-long longnose sucker, and of deepwater species including whitefish and Cisco.
Energy Sources
Since its discovery, Lake Superior has been served as a valuable energy source to local inhabitants as well as commercial enterprises. Many methods were created to fully exploit the lake’s resources. These methods include building electricity-generating hydroelectric plants and supplying freshwater for agricultural, industrial and residential use.
The lake has also provided a navigable outlet to the sea for goods and a trading route for goods and services. Today, the lake’s locks create a navigable waterway for transporting iron ore, steel, coal and other goods between ports on both sides of the border.
The value of the lake sets the stage for a host of ambitious projects. One such project is to create a 500-mile long superior superhighway by road and rail from Lake Michigan cargo terminals to Superior’s twin port, Duluth-Superior.
Climate Change
Unfortunately, Lake Superior, along with the other Great Lakes, has been severely threatened by the effects of climate change. The rise in global temperatures and changing ice cycles has caused drastic changes to this highly delicate ecosystem.
As temperatures rise, water levels are dropping due to evaporation, leading to a drop in the lake levels lower than ever before. This perilous environmental crisis has led to dry, restricted harbors and harmed the native wildlife.
In response, individuals and organizations have banded together to help ensure the long-term preservation of the lake. From fundraising efforts to public awareness campaigns, the focus of conservation organizations is to alert people to the hazards posed to the lake and all its inhabitants.
Conclusion
Lake Superior is a natural marvel whose dimensions and beauty can captivate any on-looker. Now that we have established exactly how far across the lake is, it’s clear why it’s such a valuable resource for people and wildlife alike. As climate change continues to threaten its ecosystem, only through further conservation efforts and public education can the preservation of this great lake be maintained.
