{"id":8709,"date":"2023-10-26T15:20:16","date_gmt":"2023-10-26T14:20:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lakebeyond.com\/?p=8709"},"modified":"2023-10-26T15:20:16","modified_gmt":"2023-10-26T14:20:16","slug":"how-deep-does-lake-superior-get","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lakebeyond.com\/how-deep-does-lake-superior-get\/","title":{"rendered":"How Deep Does Lake Superior Get"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Lake Superior is one of the Great Lakes of North America, located in the United States and Canada. It is the largest of the Great Lakes in both surface area and water volume. The lake spans an impressive 31,700 square miles and is home to a wealth of wildlife, from fish and other aquatic creatures, to birds, mammals and amphibians. But, how deep does Lake Superior get? The answer may surprise you.<\/p>\n

The maximum depth of Lake Superior is an impressive 1,333 feet! This makes it the deepest of all the Great Lakes, and the third deepest lake in the world. This depth is due to the fact that the lake is located in a geological basin, with an average depth of around 482 feet. Origins of the deepest parts of the lake can be traced back over two billion years, when an ancient mountain range was worn away by glaciers. However, due to the large depths, only 21% of the lake’s area is actually below the surface.<\/p>\n

Not only is the lake deep, it can also be cold. Surface temperatures during the summer months can reach around 63°F, although the deep water is significantly cooler, usually around 39°F. This temperature change can lead to the formation of unstable water columns, known as “thermoclines”. These can be hazardous to boats, as the columns can cause vessels to suddenly lose speed or prematurely destabilize.<\/p>\n

Due to the impressive depths and cold temperatures, Lake Superior is also home to some of the deepest shipwrecks in freshwater. Over 200 shipwreck sites have been identified in the lake, many of which are over 300 feet below the water’s surface. Some of these historic vessels were lost due to storms, while others are believed to have been deliberately scuttled.<\/p>\n