Interface administrators, smwadministrator, smwcurator, smweditor
82,369
edits
m
→Size of Lake Superior
| Line 21: | Line 21: | ||
The average depth of Superior is about 500 feet. It is the deepest (1,335 feet) of the Great Lakes. If you go swimming there in the hottest part of the summer, you'll soon learn that Lake Superior is also the coldest of the Great Lakes - brrr, icy cold at an average temperature of 40° F (4°C). The water temperature sets the climate for the area, making winters warmer and summers cooler. Fall is the season for "northeasters" or strong winds and rain. This is what caused most of Lake Superior's 350 shipwrecks. The lake weather also causes "lake effect" snowfalls along the shores of Wisconsin and Michigan because the air cools and releases moisture as it rises - dropping more snow in addition to typical Midwestern weather patterns. Also during most winters, the lake is 40 to 95 percent covered by ice. Wind usually keeps the center of the lake open. It occasionally frezes over completely. | The average depth of Superior is about 500 feet. It is the deepest (1,335 feet) of the Great Lakes. If you go swimming there in the hottest part of the summer, you'll soon learn that Lake Superior is also the coldest of the Great Lakes - brrr, icy cold at an average temperature of 40° F (4°C). The water temperature sets the climate for the area, making winters warmer and summers cooler. Fall is the season for "northeasters" or strong winds and rain. This is what caused most of Lake Superior's 350 shipwrecks. The lake weather also causes "lake effect" snowfalls along the shores of Wisconsin and Michigan because the air cools and releases moisture as it rises - dropping more snow in addition to typical Midwestern weather patterns. Also during most winters, the lake is 40 to 95 percent covered by ice. Wind usually keeps the center of the lake open. It occasionally frezes over completely. | ||
=== | ===Geography=== | ||
Superior stretches approximately 350 miles from west to east, and 160 miles north to south, with a shoreline almost 2,800 miles long. That is the same distance as driving from Duluth Minnesota to Miami Florida. The land area surrounding the lake also provides Lake Superior with water in the form of rain and snowmelt runoff from Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ontario Canada. | Superior stretches approximately 350 miles from west to east, and 160 miles north to south, with a shoreline almost 2,800 miles long. That is the same distance as driving from Duluth Minnesota to Miami Florida. The land area surrounding the lake also provides Lake Superior with water in the form of rain and snowmelt runoff from Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ontario Canada. | ||
| Line 31: | Line 31: | ||
Lake Superior was the location of the famous Nov. 10, 1975 shipwreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. This large cargo ship sank during an intense storm on a regular trip from Superior, Wisconsin, to Detroit Michigan, carrying 26,000 tons of iron ore. | Lake Superior was the location of the famous Nov. 10, 1975 shipwreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. This large cargo ship sank during an intense storm on a regular trip from Superior, Wisconsin, to Detroit Michigan, carrying 26,000 tons of iron ore. | ||
Lake Critters | ===Lake Critters=== | ||
More than 78 species of fish have been recorded in Lake Superior. Some of the species you'll find in this lake include: | More than 78 species of fish have been recorded in Lake Superior. Some of the species you'll find in this lake include: | ||
Bloater | *Bloater | ||
Brook Trout | *Brook Trout | ||
Brown Trout | *Brown Trout | ||
Burbot | *Burbot | ||
Carp | *Carp | ||
Chinook Salmon | *Chinook Salmon | ||
Coho Salmon | *Coho Salmon | ||
Freshwater Drum | *Freshwater Drum | ||
Lake Herring | *Lake Herring | ||
Lake Sturgeon | *Lake Sturgeon | ||
Lake Trout | *Lake Trout | ||
Lake Whitefish | *Lake Whitefish | ||
Longnose Sucker | *Longnose Sucker | ||
Brown Trout | *Brown Trout | ||
Muskellunge | *Muskellunge | ||
Northern Pike | *Northern Pike | ||
Pumpkinseed | *Pumpkinseed | ||
Pink Salmon | *Pink Salmon | ||
Rainbow Smelt | *Rainbow Smelt | ||
Rainbow Trout | *Rainbow Trout | ||
Rock Bass | *Rock Bass | ||
Round Goby (alien invader) | *Round Goby (alien invader) | ||
Round Whitefish | *Round Whitefish | ||
Ruffe | *Ruffe | ||
Sea Lamprey (alien invader) | *Sea Lamprey (alien invader) | ||
Smallmouth Bass | *Smallmouth Bass | ||
Walleye | *Walleye | ||
White Perch | *White Perch | ||
White Sucker | *White Sucker | ||
Yellow Perch | *Yellow Perch | ||
Lake superior is also home to at least 36 species of waterfleas. Don't worry, they aren't harmful to people, but play an important role in the Great Lakes food chain. Two alien species are causing problems, the fishhook and spiny water fleas. Learn more about the spiny water flea. | Lake superior is also home to at least 36 species of waterfleas. Don't worry, they aren't harmful to people, but play an important role in the Great Lakes food chain. Two alien species are causing problems, the fishhook and spiny water fleas. Learn more about the spiny water flea. | ||
Pollution Patrol | ===Pollution Patrol=== | ||
Toxic pollution in Lake Superior is low compared to the other Great Lakes; however, mercury, dioxin, and PCBs can harm lake wildlife because they don't easily break down, lasting a long time in the lake. In 1991, an agreement to reduce toxins was made between the United States and Canada, including the governments of Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the province of Ontario. Read about current fish advisories (leaves EEK!) that will tell you about limiting the amount of fish you eat from this lake. | Toxic pollution in Lake Superior is low compared to the other Great Lakes; however, mercury, dioxin, and PCBs can harm lake wildlife because they don't easily break down, lasting a long time in the lake. In 1991, an agreement to reduce toxins was made between the United States and Canada, including the governments of Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the province of Ontario. Read about current fish advisories (leaves EEK!) that will tell you about limiting the amount of fish you eat from this lake. | ||
[[Category;US Migration Rivers and Lakes]] | |||