8 Fun Facts About Lake Superior

If you are planning a trip to Michigan and have been wondering where to visit in the Upper Peninsula, you absolutely must add Lake Superior to your itinerary! Lake Superior is the largest, cleanest, and coldest of all the Great Lakes. Perhaps, that’s why it’s “superior” to the other great lakes? Easily accessible from quaint towns like Ironwood, Michigan, this massive lake is famous for its fresh waters and immense depth. Below, we will discuss eight fun facts about Lake Superior so you can appreciate it in all its glory on your next visit to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan!

1. Lake Superior Holds 10% of the Planet’s Fresh Water

Did you know that Lake Superior holds around 10% of all the water in the entire world? It’s true! Of all the surface water on the planet Earth, Lake Superior contains a whopping 10% of it! That’s over three quadrillion gallons. In fact, the water in Lake Superior is enough to flood the entirety of North and South America to a depth of around 12 inches. When you consider that a standard Olympic swimming pool holds about 600,000 gallons, these numbers really start to add up. You could fill more than 1 billion Olympic swimming pools with the lake’s waters!

2. The Lake Covers Over 31,700 Square Miles

The square mileage of Lake Superior is no joke. When you look at this lake on a map, it is easy to see how large it is compared to Michigan or Wisconsin. However, did you know that Lake Superior is also larger than the state of Maine? It’s just a little smaller than Indiana, 35,870 square miles. Lake Superior is also larger than South Carolina, West Virginia, Maryland, and Vermont. Moreover, this lake is about 30 times the size of Delaware and more than seven times the size of Connecticut! Suffice it to say when they call it a Great Lake, they really mean it!

3. You Can Really See Your Way Around in the Waters

Lake Superior is unquestionably the clearest of all of the great lakes. In fact, the average underwater visibility in Lake Superior is about 27 feet. This makes it one of the cleanest and clearest large freshwater lakes in the world! In some areas of Lake Superior, underwater visibility even reaches 90 feet. In contrast, if you were diving off the coast of New Jersey, the Atlantic Ocean’s visibility would usually be under 15. In Lake Superior, you can sometimes even see the bottom of the lake. This is especially true in shallower areas. As a matter of fact, if you decide to visit the lakeshore on a particularly nice day and climb up on the rocks, chances are, you will be able to see fish swimming beneath you. Now that’s some good clean fun!

4. Summer Days are Longer on the Western Shore of Lake Superior

If you decide to visit Lake Superior, chances are you’ve decided to come in the summertime. You might start to wish that your lakeside summer day could last forever. While nothing lasts forever, in the summertime, the sun sets later on Lake Superior’s western shore! Indeed, the sun sets 35 minutes later in the day on the western shore than it does on the Southeastern edge.

5. The Lake Hardly Ever Freezes Entirely

In the winter months, Michigan and Wisconsin can get pretty cold. In fact, Lake Superior adjacent towns like Ironwood, Michigan, see some of the highest snowfall averages in the United States! As such, you’d think that these frigid temperatures would be enough to solidify the waters of Lake Superior! However, Lake Superior rarely ever freezes over completely. While many spots ice over and become solid enough for winter sports like ice fishing and snowmobiling, the lake has only completely frozen over twice in the last 100 years. According to records, Lake Superior became completely frozen over in 1973 and then froze fully again in 1996. During some of the colder years, it has come close to freezing, at around 90%.

6. Superior is Full of Surprises

Lake Superior can make some pretty big waves when the weather gets stormy! After a large storm, the lake has been known to churn up some pretty fascinating surprises. Items stirred up and carried to shore include lumber, petrified trees, shipwreck pieces, coal, smooth glass, and unique rocks. However, some pretty exciting creatures have also washed ashore! In 2017, mysterious balls of goo were found washed up along the lake’s shoreline near the Pictured Rocks Lakeshore. These fascinating goo balls were actually a naturally occurring phenomenon created by a type of gelatinous mantle covering zooplankton crustaceans known as Hollopedium Gibberum.

7. This Great Lake is Home to at least 80 Species of Freshwater Fish

Lake Superior has over 80 species of fish! This large lake is home to 17 native species of fish, 15 non-native species of fish, and many freshwater aquatic species. Native fish often caught for commercial fishing include lake whitefish, trout, and herring. The lake is also known for its muskellunge, walleye, sturgeon, burbot, trout, and perch. If you decide to visit the Apostle Islands or any of the areas surrounding Chequamegon Bay, you can join a fishing charter and enjoy guided fishing excursions to help you reel in the catch of a lifetime! Enterprises such as Star Kissed Charters, Nomad Charters, Apostle Islands Charter Fishing, D’s Superior Fishing Charters, and Beyond The Catch Guide Service LLC are ready to help you schedule and plan your next Lake Superior fishing trip!

8. Many Upper Peninsula Waterfalls Empty Into Lake Superior

Whether visiting the Porcupine Mountains or the Ottawa National Forest, you will surely notice that the Upper Peninsula is full of cascading waterfalls. Many of these waterfalls, such as Tahquamenon Falls, flow into rivers and streams that empty into Lake Superior. This is one reason that the lake has such a steady influx of fresh water. Indeed, the numerous churning waterfalls in the area keep the lake’s waters clean and revitalized. Some of the most gorgeous waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula (such as Interstate Falls and Potawatomi Falls) can be found just outside of Bessemer and Ironwood, Michigan.

Want to Visit the Upper Peninsula and Explore Lake Superior in Person? Contact Travel Ironwood!

As you can see, Lake Superior is full of fascinating secrets and can be one of the coolest places to visit in Michigan! Having trouble making up your mind about where to visit in the Upper Peninsula? In Ironwood, Michigan, you will find charming accommodations, exciting Lake Superior excursions, and unlock limitless possibilities for unforgettable family fun. Travel Ironwood can answer your questions and help you plan the perfect Pure Michigan escape! Whether you want to explore enchanting Upper Peninsula waterfalls or need to decide which towns in the Upper Peninsula to book lodging in throughout your journey, Travel Ironwood is the perfect place to start.