Introduction
Lake Superior is the largest of the five Great Lakes, the largest freshwater lake in the world, and the oldest living freshwater lake on the planet. Straddling the U.S.-Canada border, the lake’s importance to the surrounding regions has been significant throughout history. It has shaped local communities and cultures, provided major migratory pathways for fish, and has been a source of fresh water and recreational activities. While Lake Superior has no official political boundaries, four U.S. states border this highly celebrated lake.
U.S. Boundaries
Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan make up the U.S. boundary of Lake Superior. Each state has long-standing ties to the lake, with Minnesota and Wisconsin having multiple cultural and commercial hubs along its shores. The city of Superior, Wisconsin is the only city located directly on the lake’s shore. While Michigan’s boundary with Lake Superior is a bit less direct, the powerful pull of its influence is still felt by local residents. The 12 Apostles — a chain of archipelago islands near Michigan’s Upper Peninsula — are a portion of the lake that Michigan, and the United States, claim as part of its shoreline, even though the islands are 1.6 kilometers away.
Minnesota
Minnesota, one of the northernmost U.S. states, has the longest border with Lake Superior. In between the two is Duluth, a port city along the Saint Louis River that connects Lake Superior to the Atlantic Ocean. The port of Duluth-Superior is the largest and most advanced port on the Great Lakes, with railroad, trucking, and boat traffic going in and out of the state. The largest city near the Minnesota shores of Lake Superior is Thunder Bay, Ontario, to the north. Other destinations near the Minnesota border include: Split Rock Lighthouse, Gooseberry Falls State Park, and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Wisconsin
The state of Wisconsin is home to both the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, a protected slice of the lake, and the largest city directly on the lake — Superior. Wisconsin’s 149-kilometer border with Lake Superior includes the well-known Bayfield Peninsula and its many islands, which make up the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Tourists flock to this area to explore its towering cliffs and sandy beaches, as well as its many nearby campsites. For over 60 years, the Chequamegon Bay Maritime Museum has documented the local maritime culture, showcasing how generations of Wisconsinites have interacted with Lake Superior.
Michigan
Michigan, the only Great Lakes state in the lower 48, makes up the southeastern corner of Lake Superior. While Michigan’s boundary with Lake Superior is somewhat indirect, with an approximate 49 kilometer gap between them, the lake’s pull is still felt across the state. The 12 Apostles, located just off the southeastern coast of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, are considered to be part the state’s shoreline. Furthermore, vast areas of Michigan are located in the lake’s watershed, making the lake vital to the state’s way of life.
Economic Benefits
For centuries, people in the United States and Canada have utilized Lake Superior for a number of enterprises. Initially, its vastness provided innumerable resources to local indigenous tribes, who exchanged these goods and used them to sustain their communities. Later, waves of European immigration reshaped the economic landscape, creating a heavy-duty lumber and mining industry along the lake’s banks. Settlers also established fishing businesses, with the main goal of supplying other parts of the United States with their catches. Today, a variety of businesses, from commercial vessel companies to private banks and tourism centers, have been established around the lake. The commercial activities and recreational activities that take place along Lake Superior draw in thousands of travelers every year, and make it one of the most profitable sites along the US-Canada border.
Environmental Causes
The United States states that border Lake Superior have recently taken a proactive stance in sustainability. The four states have come together to form the Lake Superior Environmental Protection Project, or LSEPP. This project aims to protect the lake from future damage, while preserving its natural beauty and delicate ecosystems. The LSEPP focuses on a variety of areas, including education, reduction of invasive species, water quality, and the preservation of fishing and recreational activities. Each state has contributed financially to LSEPP to help protect the lake and its communities.
Public Outreach
The four states with a boundary to Lake Superior have invested heavily in protecting the lake’s resources and ecosystems. Each state’s department of tourism, as well as its parks service, have engaged the public in outreach efforts to educate and increase appreciation for the lake. Through public programs, informational hubs, and even public art, the lake’s natural beauty has been safeguarded for future generations.
Conclusion
Lake Superior has been a staple to the lives of residents in the United States states that border it for centuries. With the establishment of the LSEPP, an inter-state agreement, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan have all come together to protect this valuable asset from environmental harm. Through investing in public outreach programs, the beauty and abundance of the lake, as well as the quality of life for its surrounding communities, is being preserved for generations to come.
