Whales and Lake Superior
In the vibrant Great Lakes Region, many people ask if whales inhabit the waters of Lake Superior. The answer is no whales do not exist in Lake Superior, as the natural environment of the lake is simply too different for them to inhabit.
Lake Superior is the furthest landlocked lake of the five great lakes. To have whales living in the lake, it would need to contain the same salt levels of oceans near the equator. This is not the case for Lake Superior, as the Great Lakes are all estimated to have iron, calcium and magnesium levels many thousands of times higher than the ocean. Iron helps form platelets, while calcium and magnesium form salts, helping to regulate pH.
Lake Superior is also considerably warmer than the open ocean. The sea temperatures of the ocean are typically around 3.5°C on average, ranging from -2°C to 28°C. The average temperature of Lake Superior however is nearly double this, reaching approximately 6°C, often only reaching 17°C during peak summer months.
A change in water salinity is the most challenging barrier. Since wales only exist in saltwater, not freshwater, it would be impossible for them to survive in waters as fresh as Lake Superior. The waters contained in the Great Lakes are some of the freshest in the world and Lake Superior is estimated to have 0.7 parts per million (ppm) salinity, considerably less than the 35ppm salinity found in the ocean.
Whales feeding habits are also unaccommodating to the one found in Lake Superior. The food chain of organisms found in the lake can not support whales, as there is no food source available large enough for whales to survive, such as zooplankton, krill, fish, squid and other large organisms. The food chain of Lake Superior is complicated and involves quite a few linkages and a number of organisms, but doesn’t contain large sources of food that whales need to survive.
Whale Evolution In Lake Superior Is Impractical
Evolution of whales in Lake Superior is also not practical, due to the sheer depths of the lake. Lake Superior is 1,333 feet deep at its deepest point and is the world’s largest lake by surface area, spanning over 31,700 square miles. Therefore, as an extremely deep lake, there is not enough oxygen levels and sunlight required to sustain fleshy resource of shrimp, squid, and krill that whales need.
Whales also need to travel large distances as part of their normal behavior, as many species of whales can travel up to 100 miles a day, and some even further. This would be difficult to sustain in the confined inland space of Lake Superior. Whales can also travel up to 25 miles per hour, and a lake as massive as Lake Superior would not provide whales with enough mobility.
Whales typically stay near the surface of the ocean, but Lake Superior has many cliffs and steep drops throughout. Whales need to stay near the surface to feed and stay warm, but due to the sheer depths of the lake, there would be insufficient areas throughout for them to inhabit. In addition, many species of whales can dive for up to 20 minutes, searching for food, meaning there is likely not enough space throughout the depths of the lake for that kind of activity either.
Whales evolved from land mammals millions of years ago, adapting to their environment in order to survive. Over time they slowly acquired the capability to live and breathe underwater, which was enabled by the oxygen levels and temperatures of the ocean. Although Lake Superior is host to a variety of marine life, whales simply do not have the necessary capabilities to inhabit an environment like this.
The Impacts of No Whales In Lake Superior
The presence of whales in Lake Superior could also cause significant environmental impacts, particularly due to the winter temperatures of the lake. For whales to survive, they need extensive areas of relatively warmer water throughout their habitat. Lake Superior in winter however can dip as low as -2.2°C, and there is not enough space for them to swim to the warmer waters of the southern end of the lake either.
Industrial efforts and water levels also create impacts on whales. Pollutants are a major risk for whales and other marine life, and due to industrial development taking place in the Great Lakes, pollution has since become an issue. The confined inland ecology of the lake would also not provide whales with enough opportunities for them to renew vital resources and seek better areas of habitat.
The introduction of whales in Lake Superior could also pose risks to humans and other marine animals. Human activities like shipping and fishing lines could cause issues while whales attempt to migrate through, while the booming of boats could drive them away. That combined with pollution, the disruption of spawning habitat and other human activities, could cause further decrease in whale population.
It’s also worth taking a moment to consider the importance of hope in this context. Over the years, people have gained the opportunity to see these incredible creatures in the wild, illustrating their complex behaviors and majestic nature. Although whales are unable to inhabit Lake Superior, it is important to appreciate the efforts and perseverance made to protect and support the Great Lakes in their efforts to achieve healthy water quality and aquatic environments.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the waters of Lake Superior are simply too different for whales to inhabit due to their different water salinity, temperature and foodchains. Traditional whale behavior and evolutionary capacities are also not suitable for the environment, and therefore the large lake is left without whales and large marine mammals.
It is important to understand the factors that make it impossible for whales to exist in Lake Superior, and for that reason, it is necessary to continue to protect the Great Lakes and its water quality, in order to ensure that these unique and vibrant ecosystems remain as healthy and functionally diverse as possible.
