Lake Superior
Geographically the second largest lake in the world (after the Caspian Sea), by area the largest freshwater lake in the world
The Upper Lake (English Lake Superior; French Lac Supérieur ) is the largest of the five Great Lakes of North America, as well as by the Caspian Sea area the second largest inland sea in the world, and thus the largest surface freshwater lake ( the deepest and of volume, is the largest freshwater lake in the Lake Baikal in Siberia ).
By the shores of Lake Superior, the border between Canada and the United States runs. Its water level is at 184 m with a total area of 82,103 km ² (about the size of Austria ). Its maximum depth is 406 m, from the northernmost to the southernmost point, the distance 290.2 km, the largest east - west distance is 599.6 km. The upper lake is bordered to the north by the province of Ontario in Canada (Canadian Seeanteil 29.847km ², american Seeanteil 52,256 km ²) and the U.S. state of Minnesota, to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. The largest island in the lake is the Isle Royale, from the south overlooks the Keweenaw Peninsula far into the lake.
The Lake Superior is the Great Lake with the best water quality, since unlike the other lakes only a few industrial plants are located on its bank and he is not fed from the other lakes.
The lake has over 200 tributaries. The largest are the Nipigon River, the Saint Louis River, the Pigeon River, the Pic River, the White River, the Michipicoten River and the Kaministiquia River.
The Upper Lake flows via the Saint Marys River from Lake Huron in making it part of the waterway of the Great Lakes. The rapids on this river require locks, the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie, so that ships can overcome the eight-meter height difference to Lake Huron.
Name
In the language of the Anishinabe (also Ojibwa or Chippewa Indians ) of the Lake " Gichigami " is called ( "big water "). He is also known as the " Gitche Gumee " as example Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1855 epic, The Song of Hiawatha and Gordon Lightfoot ballad "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald ," which is about the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald on Lake Superior in November 1975. The lake was named in the 17th century by French explorers " le lac supérieur " ( Lake Superior ), because it is located above Lake Huron.
History
The upper lake was an important route already for the American Indian population, the north- shore open to the Pigeon River and the Kaministiquia River two rivers that served as routes into the interior of present-day Canada. The first white men were French fur traders who were shown by the Indians of these compounds. The so-called Grand Portage on the Pigeon River was expanded to trading post, which was founded in 1783 by French-born merchants North West Company, where he took a fortified camp on, in which they moved their headquarters during the summer months. The reconstructed base is now recognized as Grand Portage National Monument.
In the 19th century mining settlements developed around the lake, in particular iron ore was mined and transported by boat across the lake. Duluth is now the most profitable inland port in the United States, coal and iron ore are the most important assets.
Today, tourism plays an important role in the mild climate makes the area in summer and winter becoming a popular destination. Fishing, boating, hiking, cross-country skiing in the winter and snowmobiling are the most common activities. The water quality makes the lake despite the low temperatures at an attractive diving destination.
Since 2007 is a significant part of the Canadian shores of the lake under protection. There, the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area is located.
Shipping
The Upper Lake is an important transportation route for iron ore and other mining products. Large cargo ships, so-called Laker and smaller sea-going ships of the Seawaymax - class transport such goods on the St. Lawrence Seaway.
The south bank of the lake between Grand Marais and Whitefish Point is ship graveyard, since in this area several ships have perished than in any other part of the lake. These shipwrecks are protected by the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve. The last large ship that was sunk on the big lake in a storm, was the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. This ship was sunk on 10 November 1975 about 27 miles from Whitefish Point away with 29 crew members on board. In the history of navigation on Lake Superior repeated storms have brought several ships to destruction, such as the Mataafa - storm of November 28, 1905 or the Great Lakes Storm of 1913.
In August 2007, around the wreckage of Cyprus was found. This 128 m long iron ore freighter sank in a storm on October 11, 1907 on his second voyage from Superior, Wisconsin to Buffalo, New York. Built in Lorain, Ohio ship was put into service until August 17, 1907.