The Dangerous Waters of Lake Superior

What do you think of when I ask you to picture a lake? Depending on where you call home, you could have come up with anything from a small, shallow body of water to a deeper, larger lake. If you've ever been on the shores of Lake Superior, you'll know that this lake is unlike any other.

Lake Superior is the biggest freshwater lake in all of North America, and ranks as one the the largest lakes in the world. At her deepest, Lake Superior reaches over 1,000 feet (over 400 meters).

Spanning over 350 miles from East to West, Lake Superior holds 10% of the world's freshwater. This 440 trillion cubic feet of water enough to flood all of North and South America in one foot of water.

With an average water temperature of 40° F (4° C), this lake is cold. Yet due to her incredible size, it's rare for her to completely freeze over in the winter. In fact, conditions for walking on the ice (as in the picture above) only ever occur in the deepest, coldest parts of winter.

She's beautiful, majestic, and serene, but don't let her looks fool you, she harbors some of the deadliest secrets.

Under her magnificent surface, she hides the remains of mysterious shipwrecks and serves as the final resting place for her over 10,000 known victims. There are likely many more unknown victims, because it's known by many that Lake Superior does not give up her dead.

Over 350 known shipwrecks have occurred on this lake, the most famous being the Edmund Fitzgerald. You may know this wreck from its famous song, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” by Gordon Lightfoot. But if not, it's an incredible yet tragic tale.

On November 10, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald was caught in a severe storm. Up until the end, the ship itself seemed to be doing fine. The Fitzgerald was communicating with the other ship, the Anderson, that was out this fateful day. The last known communication between the Fitzgerald and the Anderson had been from the Fitz: "we are holding our own." Then, all communication was cut, and the ship seemingly disappeared. It's still unknown why the ship ultimately sank, and the secret shall remain with the 29 crew members who were lost that day. There were no survivors.

To this day, hundreds of barges make the trek across Lake Superior. They carry goods from the United States, and some even come from countries across the seas. If you ever get the chance to watch as one of these potentially 1,000 foot ships glide underneath the Aerial Lift Bridge, take it. You may never get another chance to be in such awe.

I would consider Duluth, Minnesota to be my hometown. Maybe I wasn't born in this city, but I have a tie to it like no other. I've spent years exploring her shore, traversing her trails, and sailing across her waters as a deckhand aboard a small ship. Because of this, I have seen and felt Lake Superior's might and power.

On a calm day, her surface is smooth, and her waters are tranquil. You can go swimming on her shores, fishing in the shallows, or agate hunting on her rocky beaches. Her sunsets are like no other, each one painted in its own unique shade.

On a cold morning, you can see the steam evaporating off the water, making for an eerie sight. When the fog rolls in, you might as well grab your knife; it's so thick that you feel as though you could cut out a piece and take it home. With these barriers coming and going as they please, its no wonder that ships have become prey to the dangers of this lake.

When the storm hits, she doesn't hold back. Her waves have been known to surpass 20 feet in height, reaching high into the sky and attacking the trees on top of the rocky cliffs of the shoreline. The highest waves ever recorded on Lake Superior were nearly 30 feet tall, but many speculate that her waves reach even higher. When you drive along the old Shoreline Drive and see the anger of her waves, your respect and fear of this lake only grows.

Lake Superior is filled with history and secrets, and inspires awe and wonder. Despite its many dangers, Lake Superior is truly worth the visit.