Lake Superior

Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes of North America and the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. It lies in central North America and straddles the Canada–United States border, with Ontario to the north and east and the U.S. states of Minnesota to the west and Michigan and Wisconsin to the south. It is the northernmost, westernmost, and highest of the Great Lakes.

The lake is notable for its great size, depth, and cold, clear water. Its shoreline is irregular and includes high, rocky coasts in many places. Lake Superior is about 383 miles (616 km) long and up to 160 miles (257 km) wide, with a maximum recorded depth of 1,008 feet (307 m). Its surface lies about 602 feet (183 m) above sea level.

Lake Superior receives water from many rivers, including the St. Louis River at its western end. It also contains several islands, among them Isle Royale, Michipicoten Island, Grand Island (Michigan), Manitou Island, and the Apostle Islands. The lake drains eastward into Lake Huron through the St. Marys River, and then via the lower Great Lakes to the St. Lawrence River and the Atlantic Ocean.