Lake Superior — Attraction in Terrace Bay Township

SIZE, DEPTH, WATERSHED, WATER QUALITY, etc Lake Superior is, by surface area, the world's largest freshwater lake. The surface area of Lake Superior (31,700 square miles or 82,170 square kilometers) is greater than the combined areas of Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. Lake Superior contains as much water as all the other Great Lakes combined, even throwing in two extra Lake Eries.  Its volume is second only to Russia's Lake Baikal. Lake Superior contains 10% of all the earth's fresh surface water. There is enough water in Lake Superior (3,000,000,000,000,000--or 3 quadrillion-- gallons) to flood all of North and South America to a depth of one foot. The deepest point in Lake Superior (about 40 miles north of Munising, Michigan) is 1,300 feet (400 meters) below the surface. Over 300 streams and rivers empty into Lake Superior. 8,  The average elevation of Lake Superior is about 602 feet above sea level. The Lake Superior watershed region ranges in size from 160 miles inland near Wabakimi Provincial Park to only 5 miles inland from Pictured Rocks National Seashore. The Lake Superior shoreline, if straightened out, could connect Duluth and the Bahama Islands. The average underwater visibility of Lake Superior is 27 feet, making it easily the cleanest and clearest of the Great Lakes.  Underwater visibility in places reaches 100 feet.  Lake Superior has been described as "the most oligotrophic lake in the world." The lake is about 350 miles (563 km) in length and 160 miles (257 km) in width. In the summer, the sun sets more than 35 minutes later on the western shore of Lake Superior than at its southeastern edge. Lake Superior has over 400 islands, the largest of which is Isle Royale, with a size of 207 square miles. Waves of over 40 feet in height have been recorded on Lake Superior. Travel by car around Lake Superior covers a distance of about 1,300 miles. The largest underwater formation in Lake Superior is the Superior Shoal, which rises from a depth of over 1,000 feet to within 20 feet of the water surface over a distance of just three miles. Sudden changes in winds or barometric pressure around Lake Superior can produce seiches, a phenomenon which results in water levels rising or falling as much as six feet along a coast in a short period of time. Water in Lake Superior is retained, on average, 191 years.

GEOLOGY, FLORA AND FAUNA, CLIMATE, etc. Lake Superior is one of the earth's youngest major features, at only about 10,000 years of age--dating to the last glacial retreat.  By comparison, the earth's second largest lake (by surface area, and largest by volume), Lake Baikal in Russia, is 25 million years old. Fifty-eight orchid species are native to the Lake Superior basin.  In North America, only Florida has more native orchid species. Lake Superior produces the greatest lake effect snows on earth.  (Significant lake effect snows are a rare phenomenon, occurring--besides on the Great Lakes--only on the east shore of Hudson Bay and the west coasts of two Japanese islands.)  Lake effect snows extend 20 to 30 miles inland, primarily on the Ontario shore southeast of Marathon, and from Sault Ste. Marie to the Wisconsin-Michigan border.  Average annual snowfall in Michigan's Keweenaw exceeds 200 inches in places. Lake Superior has been at its modern elevation for only about 2,000 years, when elevations of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron dropped, creating a rapids at Sault Ste. Marie. Lake Superior has its origins in the North American Mid-Continent Rift of 1.1 to 1.2 billion years ago, which produced a huge plume of hot mantle where the present lake sits.  The crust tore apart, leaving an arc-shaped scar stretching form Kansas through Minnesota, then down...

Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes by surface area, is known for its stunning natural beauty and rugged shoreline. It spans parts of the U.S. and Canada, offering diverse landscapes, from sandy beaches to rocky cliffs.

Activities:

• Summer: • Boating and Kayaking: The lake’s vastness provides ample opportunities for boating, kayaking, and sailing. • Fishing: Renowned for its fishing, anglers can catch species such as lake trout, salmon, and walleye. • Hiking: Trails along the shore, particularly in places like Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, offer breathtaking views and waterfalls. • Fall: • Scenic Drives: The fall colors transform the landscape, making drives along the shoreline particularly picturesque. • Winter: • Snowshoeing and Ice Fishing: The winter months offer unique experiences, including ice fishing and snowshoeing on frozen sections of the lake.

Scenery: Lake Superior is characterized by its clear blue waters, dramatic cliffs, and secluded beaches. The colorful sandstone formations and towering waterfalls, like Tahquamenon Falls, add to the area’s beauty.

Cultural Attractions:

• Apostle Islands: Known for their sea caves and historic lighthouses, these islands are perfect for exploration and kayaking. • Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center: Located in Duluth, Minnesota, this center offers insights into the lake’s shipping history and maritime culture.

Visitor Amenities: The region surrounding Lake Superior features a range of accommodations, from rustic cabins to upscale hotels. Many towns, such as Bayfield and Grand Marais, provide charming shops, restaurants, and local events.

Conclusion: Lake Superior offers a unique blend of natural beauty, outdoor adventure, and cultural experiences. Its stunning scenery and recreational opportunities make it an ideal destination for nature lovers and...

There was nowhere to stand on! I heard about these supposed 'great lakes' that are apparently a huge natural wonder of the US, so I decided to go to was was supposed to be the biggest one. Now I don't know what a 'lake' is, but when I went to it, there was this huge mass of water blocking the way! I was unable to check out the whole thing beacuse whenever I went into it, I would start sinking into the floor. It was extremely cold and wet, and when I sunk to much, it made it hard to breathe, and there was a bunch of water blocking the way as well, so I wasn't able to see it. Luckily, I was able to prevent myself from suffocating and escape by rapidly flailing my limbs in random directions. I think it might've been some kind of anti-tresspassing technology. I tried to call the government to tell them to get rid of the anti-tresspassing measures, but they said there was nothing they could do. I just know they were lying, it was probably some beuracrat being lazy and not wanting to do his job. All in all it is a 1/100. I almost got killed trying to go there, I wasn't warned of the dangers at all, it was cold, it was wet, and you can't even see it because there is so much water in the way....