Lake Superior FACTS Charter Fishing Marina/Harbor Artists’ Point

Lake Superior Facts

Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes in surface area and volume. All the other Great Lakes plus three more the size of Lake Erie could fit inside Lake Superior. It is particularly known for its clear, cold water, agate beaches and scenic beauty. A circle tour guides highway travelers around the lakeshore. Many shipwrecks in Lake Superior are now protected in bottomland preserves and accessible to recreational divers.

NAME The first French explorers approaching the great inland sea by way of the Ottawa River and Lake Huron referred to their discovery as le lac superieur. Properly translated, the expression means "Upper Lake," that is, the lake above Lake Huron. Kitchi-gummi, a Chippewa Indian translation, signifies Great-water or Great-lake.

LENGTH 350 miles / 563 km.

BREADTH 160 miles / 257 km.

AVERAGE DEPTH 483 ft. / 147 m.

MAXIMUM DEPTH 1,332 ft. / 406 m.

VOLUME 2,900 cu. miles / 12,100 cu. km.

WATER SURFACE AREA
31,700 sq. miles / 82,100 sq. km.

TOTAL DRAINAGE BASIN AREA
49,300 sq. miles / 127,700 sq. km.

DRAINAGE BASIN AREA BY STATE/PROVINCE
Michigan: 7500 sq mi; 19,300 sq km
Minnesota: 6200 sq mi; 16,000 sq km
Ontario: 32,200 sq mi; 83,300 sq km
Wisconsin: 3000 sq mi; 7700 sq km

SHORELINE LENGTH (including islands) 2,726 miles / 4,385 km.

ELEVATION 600 ft. / 183 m.

OUTLET St. Marys River to Lake Huron

RETENTION / REPLACEMENT TIME 191 years

For additional information, call the Grand Marais Area Tourism Association:
1-888-922-5000 or 218-387-2524