Lake Superior

From Great Lakes Wiki

[edit] The Greatest of the Great Lakes

Sailboating on Lake Superior courtesy of International Wisconsin

"...By the shores of Gitche Gumee...By the shining Big-Sea-Water..."

The muse of poets. The destroyer of ships. The greatest of the Great Lakes. For centuries Lake Superior has been seen as a lake of beauty, of tragedy, and wonder. It inspired Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to write "The Song of Hiawatha." It has taken the lives of a thousand sailors. An entire culture has grown around those brave enough to live on her shores. The merciless winds and bitter temperatures of winter give way to cool damp springs. Those who are able to withstand these extreme conditions are rewarded with mild summers and stunning fall colors.

[edit] Lake Superior Facts and Figures:

Length: 350 miles
Width: 160 miles
Maximum Depth: 406 meters
Volume: 2,900 cubic miles
Shore length: 2726 miles
Replacement Time: 191 years

Lake Superior Watershed Map from EPA

Lake Superior is the largest, and the deepest of the Great Lakes. The lake itself covers 31,700 square miles, which is equivalent to the size of Maine. The volume of Lake Superior is greater than all the other Great Lakes combined. It is the largest fresh water body of water in the world by surface area, and third largest by volume. The water in Lake Superior accounts for ten percent of the world's fresh surface water. Lake Superior is fed by over 200 rivers: the Nipigon River of Ontario, the St. Louis River of Minnesota, the Pigeon River of Minnesota, the Pic River of Ontario, the White River of Ontario, and the Michipicoten River also of Ontario, are the largest contributors. Lake Superior is also fed by rain and snow fall. The watershed of Lake Superior is 49,300 square miles and extends from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, to Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ontario. Lake Superior is also the coldest of the Great Lakes with an average water temperature of 40°F

[edit] Lake Superior History:

Around 8000 B.C.- After the retreat of the Wisconsin Glaciers, the Lake Superior area was inhabitated by Indian people.

1622- Brule and Grenoble are the first Europeans to see Lake Superior.

1632- Lake Superior and Lake Huron are shown on a published map.

1641- Sault Ste. Marie is named by two Jesuit missionaries.

1658- Radisson and Groseilliers begin two-year expedition around Lake Superior. They return to Quebec with furs.

1670- Hudson Bay Company is formed and the Fur Trade begins.

1680- Jesuit mission is established in modern day Duluth.

1689-1696- The Fur Trade is crippled by war between England and France. King Louis XIV set strict regulations on trade in the Lake Superior region.

1740- The French begin to create strong ties with the native Indians, this leads the Indians to side with the French against their European Rivals.

1754-1763- The French and Indian War wages in the Lake Superior area. The victorious British gain control of Canada, and the Lake Superior Fur Trade.

1770- The mining industry comes to the Lake Superior area.

1793- The first Soo Locks are constructed.

1850's- The Fur Trade declines, while mining increases

1875- Logging begins on the Canadian shore of Lake Superior

1909- Canada and U.S. sign Boundary Waters Treaty, to limit pollution in Lake Superior

1924-1949- Lumbering and commercial fishing begin to decline in Lake Superior

1939- First Sea Lamprey identified in Lake Superior

1959- St. Lawrence Seaway opens access to salt-water shipping

1972- Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement is signed

1975- The Edmund Fitzgerald sinks, killing 29 crew members

[edit] Shipwrecks

A wreck near Isle Royale courtesy of the National Parks Service

Lake Superior is known for its tragic shipwrecks, the most famous being the Edmund Fitzgerald. The deep, frigid waters and strong winds cause dangerous situations for all types of ships. From sailboats, to ore barges, no vessel is safe from the perils of Lake Superior. Deep currents, rocky shore lines, and rapid changing weather patterns can all contribute to the sinking of a ship. Shipwrecks have now become a recreational draw for the Lake Superior. SCUBA divers and underwater photographers flock to selected sites in Lake Superior to explore the tragedies caused by this Lake.

[edit] The Shipping Industry

Shipping on Lake Superior courtesy of the EPA

Beginning in 1670 Lake Superior has been a major shipping route for all goods coming out of the Upper Peninsula and Canada. It began with the Fur Trade, and the Hudson Bay Company, then moved on to commerical logging, mining, and fishing. In 1793 the Soo Locks were constructed in Sault Ste. Marie, and the movement of ships between the lakes increased. In 1959 the St. Lawrence Seaway was opened, and the ability to move goods from the North to the East increased dramatically. With the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway, an onslaught of invasive species washed through Lake Superior. Such species as the Sea Lamprey, the Zebra Mussel, the Eurasian Ruffe, and the Spiny Water Flea have entered Lake Superior in the ballasts of shipping barges.

Though some negative aspects are caused by the shipping industry in Lake Superior, it remains an important commercial entity for the Upper Penisusla of Michigan. Concerns are being raised as the water levels in Lake Superior continue to fall, as this is beginning to affect the profitability of the shipping industry.

[edit] Ecology of the Lake

The Fish of Lake Superior

The deep, frigid waters of Lake Superior are home to select species of plants and animals. There are about 70 fish species, including some introduced ones. Native fish include Lake Trout, Whitefish, and Lake Sturgeon. The Sturgeon has become exceedingly rare, due to commercial fishing. The Sturgeon is fished mainly for it's eggs, which are prized as caviar. The Whitefish is considered a staple in the local diet. This fish was an important part of the commercial fishing industry, but it's population has greatly declined because of over-fishing and the invasion of the Sea Lamprey. Lake Superior is also home to a variety of birds including, Cormorants, Ring-billed Gulls, and several species of Dabbling Ducks.

Bald Eagles, Osprey and Peregrine Falcons have been known to breed along the coasts of Lake Superior. The entire coastline of Lake Superior plays host to thousands of migrating birds every fall and spring. Hawk Ridge in Minnesota, Whitefish Point of Michigan's Upper Peninsula are popular areas to observe the annual migrations. Lake Superior has also become home to many invasive species which have entered the lake through the ballast water of shipping

barges. The parasitic Sea Lamprey is having a huge impact on the native fish species of the lake. The Zebra Mussel is causing problems with water-intake devices, and in marinas due to their rapid growth rate. The Zebra Mussel is also having a detrimental effect on the native Unionid Clams of the Great Lakes, who compete with the Zebra Mussels for food.