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Lake Superior

Photo taken at Apostle Island Only the biggest and the best can be called “Superior” and there is no mistaking that Lake Superior deserves its name. The largest expanse of fresh water on earth, Lake Superior covers 31,700 square miles and holds as much water as Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario combined, with room left over for three extra Lake Eries. It also holds many national treasures like the Apostle Islands, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, as well as many state treasured parks and recreational areas. The pristine waters and picturesque landscapes draw tourist from all over to enjoy the many outdoor recreation and scenic opportunities.

Unlike the other Great Lakes, Lake Superior has not experienced the same level of development, urbanization and pollution. Although Lake Superior is the cleanest and most healthy of all the Great Lakes, it is still threatened by toxic pollutants that bioaccumulate in the food chain and persist in the environment. Because of Lake Superior’s relative high quality our management focus is to preserve this special resource. The approach to preserving Lake Superior is one of protection through elimination/reduction of sources of pollution by making this lake a Zero Discharge demonstration project.

Photo of Bayfield Shoreline

Through the Binational Program, an agreement between the states bordering Lake Superior Exit DNR and Ontario, Canada Exit DNR was drawn up that protects and restores the Lake Superior Basin. This program has focused on the entire ecosystem of Lake Superior, its air, land, water, human and wildlife. One of the goals of the Binational Program is to make Lake Superior a Zero Discharge basin by eliminating pollutants from the watershed so they don’t make their way into the lake. Many communities and industries around the basin are working on ways to prevent these pollutants, particularly mercury from entering Lake Superior. For example, the City of Superior Exit DNR has done a great job of reducing mercury in the community through public education and recycling efforts.

We still haven’t recovered from human activities from over a 100 years ago during massive logging efforts that stripped the landscape and caused lasting damage to our streams, waterways and wildlife habitat. These logging activities nearly wiped out the coaster brook trout population that used to be so abundant in the cold water streams of the Lake Superior Basin. Numerous efforts are on going to rebuild the habitat that was lost, not only for the coaster brook trout but other wildlife as well.

Photo taken at Apostle Island

There are many groups who are working on preservation and restoration of Lake Superior. Through the Remedial Action Plan (RAP) Exit DNR and the Lakewide Area Management Plan (LaMP) Exit DNR address problems associated with toxic pollutants, as well as other environmental problems. There are lots of opportunities to improve and preserve this most valuable resource. For information on these and other groups associated with Lake Superior visit the Lake Superior Basin web page.

Lake Superior Facts

  • Surface Area: 31,700 square miles
  • Water Volume: 2,934 cubic miles of water
  • Shoreline Length: 2,726 miles including islands
  • Lake length: 350 miles
  • Lake width: 160 miles
  • Average depth: 483 feet
  • Deepest point 1,330 feet
  • Square miles of land Drained: 49,300
  • Tributaries: 336
  • Largest Tributaries: Nipigon River, Ontario; St. Louis River, Wisconsin
  • Population living around the lake: 474,150 United States; 155,675 Canada
  • Land use near the lake: 68 percent forest
  • Agriculture around the lake: 2 percent
  • Residential/Commercial 3 percent

Map of Lake Superior Drainage Basin (278KB pdf)

Last Revised: Tuesday August 29 2006