Facts Nobody Knows About Lake Superior

1. Fresh Water

Feature: The water is so freshFact: It is safe to drink!Lake Superior contains about 10% of all the Earth’s fresh water. This fact qualifies it as the third-largest freshwater lake in the world based on volume. The water contained in this lake can actually entirely cover the North American and South American continents 12 inches deep.

Image Source: Reddit

Moreover, its water is safe to drink. The main reason Lake Superior is a freshwater lake is that it is not a closed lake. Through the St. Mary’s River and the Soo Locks, the lake empties itself into Lake Huron. Therefore, it does not solely depend on evaporation, a process that would make it saline.Original content sourced from Femanin.com

2. Surface Area

Feature: Largest freshwater lakeFact: It's 31,800 miles!Lake Superior is actually the largest freshwater lake in the whole world. Amazing! Right? Its expanse of water comes in at around 31,700 sq miles. If we compared this to any land mass that we know, it could be just about the surface area of South Carolina or even Austria in Europe. Lengthwise, Lake Superior is estimated at around 350 miles.

Image Source: Reddit

Furthermore, its breadth could span 160 miles. That's a lot to process! Lake Superior has an impressively long shoreline of about 2,726 miles. Because of its large surface area, the lake can serve Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ontario in Canada.

3. Depth

Feature: It's VERY deep!Fact: It's 1,333 feet deepLake Superior may not be the deepest lake in the world or the USA, but its depth is no mean feat. It has an average depth of 483 feet. What about the deepest point of the lake? Even deeper! At 1,333 feet where only the best limnologists can discover.

Image Source: Reddit

In 1985, the iconic limnologist J. Val Klump was recorded as the first person to reach this point. The deepest part of the lake is about 40 miles north of Munising, Michigan. Based on its average depth, the lake is safe for swimming - good news! Compared to other great lakes, it has very low drowning rates (though of course, always take caution!).

4. Fish Species

Feature: So many species!Fact: You can open fish, too!Lake Superior has about 88 species of fish species living in it. Being a freshwater lake, it is the perfect ecosystem for different kinds of edible and inedible fish. These fish species include The Northern pike, which prefers the cooler regions of the lake, the Walleye...

Image Source: Outdoor Life

... the beautiful Rainbow Trout, the Atlantic salmon, the Lake Sturgeon, and the Burbot, which thrives on a lake as pure as Lake Superior. Open fishing is also very legal on this particular lake. However, care has to be taken to prevent you from drowning, as many can get distracted when concentrating on the fish!

5. Vegetation

Feature: Lots of plants!Fact: Irksome tendrils have taken overLake Superior is also home to a wide variety of plants that thrive along its shores and within its bountiful surface. These plants not only improve the aesthetic quality of the lake but also serve as food for the many species of fish abundant there.

Image Source: Reddit

This native species has irksome tendrils which have made boating and fishing difficult. Worry not, though! Authorities are keen to ensure the menace does not spread. They include: The Poor Fens, the Carnivorous pitcher plant, the Bog rosemary, and the Bulrush found at the lake’s marshes. However, the Eurasian watermilfoil has also invaded the lake...

6. Rivers and Streams

Feature: Linked to 300 riversFact: It's very accessibleThis amazing lake actually receives its water from more than 300 different rivers and streams - impressive, right? From the Nipigon to St. Louis, the Kaministiquia River, the White River, the Bois Brule River, and the bi-national Pigeon River, too!

Image Source: Reddit

The lake then empties its water volumes into Lake Huron, doing so via the St. Mary’s River, which is beset by many rapids to content with. Not an easy feat! To make this particular stream way accessible for ships and boats, the Soo Locks were built to allow ships to beat the steep height difference between the two lakes.

7. Temperature

Feature: It's very cold!Fact: It often freezesDid you know that Lake Superior rarely freezes over completely? Now you know! Its waters are able to maintain an average temperature of 39°F for a greater part of the year. During winter, the lake freezes like many other water surfaces.

Image Source: Reddit

However, some parts remain unfrozen due to Lake Superior’s enormous surface area and depth. You’ll likely find bits of ice floating along the shallow edges of the lake. That floating ice can also be found in the bays of the lake. Notably, Lake Superior is recorded to freeze fully every twenty years during winter. A rare phenomenon!

8. Clarity and Visibility

Feature: It's so clear!Fact: Visibility of 27 feet!Considering this lake's eye-wateringly immense size, you may be tempted to think that Lake Superior’s surface is opaline in its appearance. But, surprisingly, that's actually not the case. This lake has an astonishingly clear surface. Image Source: RedditIt has a visibility range of about 27 feet. For this reason, it is considered to be the cleanest of all the great lakes - and certainly looks so with those shimmering waters! Researchers have attributed this spectacular fact to the lake’s isolated presence. Not much happens around the lake, thus saving it from pollution by human activities.

9. Geology

Feature: Rocks have existed for 2.7 billion years!Fact: Rich in mineralsLake Superior is located in an exciting region of geological study - so it's not all about the water itself! The rocks which can be found at the lake’s northernmost shores, found around Ontario, have existed for almost 2.7 billion years.

Image Source: Reddit

Some of the scenic granite rocks on the shores of Lake Superior are valuable sources of rock for understanding the earth's formation - in particular, the Precambrian age. The land area which is found around the lake outside of the water is also rich in minerals. The minerals that can be found here include iron, nickel and even silver and gold!

10. Yacht Race

Feature: Holds the biggest yacht raceFact: Takes place every year!Do you happen to love yacht racing? Good news! Lake Superior is the host of the biggest freshwater yacht race in the whole world! The race takes place twice every single year, and it's the Duluth yacht club which sponsors this exciting recreational event.

Image Source: Reddit

The race starts off at Gros Cap Light and runs to Duluth, a distance of 338 nautical miles. Sailboat enthusiasts flock there to participate in the race. What’s even more interesting is that there is adequate information about the event on the internet to ensure you’re adequately prepared. Weather and marine forecasts too!

11. Water Levels

Feature: High water levelFact: At 590 feetOne of the many amazing facts about Lake Superior is that it has a very high water level. Although these levels vary seasonally throughout the year, the lake still manages to maintain an average water level of 590 feet.

Image Source: Reddit

The reason why these levels vary is because of global ice melting, precipitation, and annual temperatures. St. Mary’s River, however, controls the water levels keeping it within limits. You can notice these changing levels if you are on the eastern shores. Storms and winds push water in a wave-like phenomenon called seche, thus elevating water levels.

12. Tides

Feature: It's got a tidal waveFact: Twice a day!We all love watching (or maybe even swimming in) the swishing waves that run toward the shore and then recede. Poetic. But lakes usually do not have tides like this because they contain smaller water volumes than oceans and seas. However, Lake Superior does have a tidal wave.

Image Source: MPR News

Experts have recorded that a tidal pattern exists every two times a day due to strong winds and variations in atmospheric pressure. The recorded tide at Lake Superior only measures in at 1.5 – 1.9 inches. Which, to say the least, is not very noticeable compared to ocean tides, but that is impressive for a lake!

13. Lowest Point on the Continent

Feature: Third lowest point in continentFact: The lake is very importantJust kidding! Lake Superior isn't officially the lowest point in the Continent, but here is the thing to know... If we drained the whole of Lake Superior, of all its waters, it would be the third lowest point in the entire Continent.

Image Source: Pinterest

It is unlikely that the lake would ever be drained completely, but the projection of such a possibility helps experts to understand the consequences it would bring to the ecosystem. A scary thought to imagine the lake completely empty. By understanding how precarious this sounds, more conservation efforts are geared in order to ensure that the drainage never happens.

14. Shoreline

Feature: It's very long!Fact: They are rocky and sandy too!If you want to know how long Lake Superior’s coastline is, stretch out a line from Duluth, Minnesota, to the Bahamas and observe the distance. Imagine it. 2,800 miles long! Minnesota’s north shore has the longest shoreline at 150 miles.

Image Source: Reddit

If that’s not enough, the shore is mainly a bedrock resistant to erosion. If you’re someone who loves the beach and prefers a beach-like sand even when they visit lakes, then the good news is that the southern shores of the lake are sandy and cool.

15. Sunsets

Feature: Southeast of the shore!Fact: 35 minutes early than the western shore!Whenever you’re thinking about your next summer getaway (and we don't blame you) why not try this amazing experience at Lake Superior? You should visit the southeastern shore of the lake during the evening, and get in touch with someone else on the western coast.

Image Source: Reddit

Something fascinating will happen. The sun sets 35 minutes earlier than the western shore. You can also visit the western shore yourself, of course. If you're the one to visit the western shore and you have someone to go to the southeastern shore, they will confirm that the sun had set 35 minutes earlier down there!

16. Storms

Feature: Huge storms!Fact: winds of 70 mph!It's not all sunny skies and calm waters, unfortunately. Great lakes also mean great storms. And Lake Superior is indeed a surface for tremendous tempests. When the Canadian system of low-pressure clashes with the lake’s warm waters, winds of up to 69 mph rile up 200 miles of water surface.Image Source: Lovin' Lake CountyIt is unsafe to navigate the lake during this time, usually November, and authorities insist you remain indoors. Though the storms can be a sight to behold (from a safe distance), these storms have caused immense damage to ships for the longest time in navigation history when on the waters.

17. Shipwrecks

Feature: Over 10k deathsFact: Some ships have never been foundIt’s getting pretty scary, right? Well, justifiably so. Lake Superior has had its share of navigational disasters. Over 10,000 people have been recorded as victims of its waters. Some ships have wandered into obscurity, never to be found.

Image Source: Reddit

However, some have been retrieved over the years. In 1905, an American ship called the Amboy was embroiled in a storm, Mataafa, finally sinking into the lake’s depths. The most mysterious shipwreck of all, however, is the sinking of the American Fitzgerald which happened in 1975. Little is known about what could have caused this disaster.

18. Churning stuff

Feature: Lots of stormsFact: They churn up interesting stuffThe storms that are known to ravage Lake Superior simmer the depths, which causes a regurgitation of the things long buried underneath the waters. Those who live around the shores have collected something known as ‘lake glass’ as well as agate rocks.

Image Source: Reddit

Watch out for old lumber, beer cans and bottles, and many other things that would shock you. You would never expect what treasures are lost in Lake Superior. Whenever there has been a storm - and you're sure it's safe to do so - stroll around the shores to see what's been turned up by the water. You never know what you could find.

19. Young lake

Feature: It's a baby!Fact: It's one of the youngest lakesLake Superior is among the youngest water bodies formed in the history of the planet, just about the last ice age. Around 10,000 years ago, an ancient glacier retreated, which left behind a basin of fresh water. Furthermore, the lake only assumed its current shape and size a whopping 4,000 years ago.

Image Source: Visit Cook County

While some freshwater lakes like Clear Lake in California are said to have existed 500,000 years ago! While it's true that some freshwater lakes existed such a long time ago, Lake Superior came into existence when early North American tribes were building their societies.

20. Retention time

Feature: HUGE capacity!Fact: It would take nearly 200 years to fillLake Superior manages to hold a great capacity of water, so much that it would actually take 191 years to cumulatively replace the water in the depression if it was emptied - that's a long time, and a lot of water! The retention time also determines the time it takes for an average drop of water to remain in the lake.

Image Source: Reddit

Many other lakes in the world are known for having a retention time of less than five years. Lake Superior actually takes the crown for its retention time all thanks to its great depth and the sheer surface area across the water. That's a lot to process!

21. Islands

Feature: It has islandsFact: Isle Royale hosts a national park!You might be thinking why on earth a lake would have islands... yeah, it does! That's how big it is! Lake Superior is large enough to accommodate not even just one island, but several islands. The largest island, Isle Royale, is located in Michigan.

Image Source: Reddit

The island hosts a national park teeming with iconic wildlife that attracts tourists from all over the world. So what are the other known islands in the lake? Those would be Madeline Island in Wisconsin, Michipicoten Island in Ontario, and Grand Island in Michigan. Don’t forget to take an enjoyable day at the recreational area!

22. Cities and Settlements

Feature: Lots of cities on its portsFact: It's a tourist hotspotLake Superior has spurred the economic fortunes of those living along its shores, such as those in fishing, navigation, and mining industries. For this reason, the lake has a plethora of cities and towns cropping up around its ports, both in Canada and in the USA.

Image Source: Reddit

These include cities like Thunderbay in Ontario and Duluth in Minnesota, which can only be grateful that the lake exists to serve their grand purposes. Also, did you know that the world’s largest inland lake port is actually found here? That would be the St. Lawrence seaway, a collection of channels, locks and canals.

23. Native American History

Feature: Steeped in historyFact: Tribes lived around the lakeThe earliest inhabitants living around Lake Superior were direct ancestors of the Ojibwe and the Cree. Archaeological evidence suggests that they were fishermen and hunters who mined copper to create weapons and tools.

Image Source: Pinterest

For 600 years, the Ojibwe and the Chippewa lived around the lake, prospering as middlemen between the other Native American tribes and the European traders who had arrived on the Continent. Their arrival came in the 17th century. By understanding the history of the Native American tribes, you realize how invaluable the lake has been for much of human history.

24. Naming and exploration

Feature: Interesting nameFact: Named by two explorersSo how did the famous name of the famous lake first come about? Lake Superior was actually named by two French explorers: Samuel De Champlain and Étienne Brûlé. Rather than give the lake their own names, when they arrived at the lake during the 17th century, they named it Lac Supérieur, which translates to ‘upper lake’ in French.

Image Source: The Historical Marker Database

Perhaps you are interested to know why it would be called the Upper Lake? Well, these two Frenchmen had already explored another lake: namely, Lake Huron. And because Lake Huron is geographically located south of Lake Superior, it makes sense!

25. Myth

Feature: Scary myths...Fact: About a sleeping giantThe Ojibwe tribe has a famous mythological story of a sleeping giant found north of Lake Superior. The 'giant' is called Nanabijou, which is actually a geographical feature that is laid upon the water and can be spotted from Thunderbay in Ontario.

Image Source: Ancient Origins

According to the legend, Nanabijou was a god who protected the tribe. When the Europeans arrived, Nanabijou offered a gift to his people: a silver mine. Later on, however, the Europeans learned of the silver mine and determined to get it; Nanabijou caused a terrible storm and laid down to protect his treasure from plunder.

26. Music Inspiration

Feature: So many songs!Fact: It made the Top 100!Musicians compose their songs for their lovers and their country, but what about for lakes? Indeed. In 1976, popular Canadian musician Gordon Lightfoot was so inspired by a shipwreck at Lake Superior that it inspired him to write a song.

Image Source: TopAccords.com

The song ‘The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’ was a commemoration of the November 1975 disaster. The song managed to ascend the Billboard Hot 100 in just two weeks! Gordon Lightfoot considers the song his all time best composition and also the crown of his ‘Summertime Dream’ album - and if you haven't heard it, go give it a listen!

27. Literature

Feature: It sells books!Fact: Fiction and non fiction too!The great lakes are avenues for the bizarre and mysterious, to say the least. Lake Superior’s surface spans vast, and its waters run deep, thus inspiring writers to imagine many stories set here. The lake has a history of shipwrecks and vessel disappearances that have been source material for about thirty mystery novels since the 19th century.

Image Source: eBay

And if you happen to be down with non-fiction books... Do we have a recommendation for you! Books like Michael Schumacher’s ‘Mighty Fitz: The Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald’ are valuable additions to your library.

28. Dense Basalts

Feature: They acted as a wallFact: They are steeped in historyHave you ever wondered why there is a driftless area found in Wisconsin today? Well, geologists say this is due to Lake Superior’s dense basalts that acted as a wall for the glaciers about 18,000 years ago. Furthermore, these revelations about the basalts and glaciers have enabled experts to better understand the Mid-continental rift.

Image Source: National Park Service

It was believed to have happened not millions, but billions of years ago! Lake Superior is also at a unique position in the American Continent - so much so, that ignoring its existence would leave us with too many blank spaces in Earth’s history.

29. Waves

Feature: Huge in sizeFact: The tallest was 29 feet!Lake Superior’s tallest wave ever recorded was about 29 feet in height, which happened north of Marquette in Michigan. This was huge! Can you imagine having that towering over you? The wave height which was believed to have sunk the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975 was only 23 feet high (which still isn't small).

Image Source: Reddit

A photographer from Minnesota, Matthew Breiter, was at Duluth that day and captured amazing images of the wave. If you're interested in seeing more, you can even find pictures of it online. The photos are a true affirmation of the power of this lake, though still don't do it justice.

30. Underwater features

Feature: Superior ShoalFact: 50 miles north of Copper HarborFrom the depths of a thousand feet, a ridge rises to the bottom of Lake Superior. The famous Superior Shoal. This incredible feature is located 50 miles north of Copper Harbor in the middle of the lake. Geologists confirm that the shoal is part of the Keweenawan basaltic lava, which is suspected to be responsible for losing two French ships during the first world war.

Image Source: Reddit

Moreover, some also speculate it could be responsible for the sinking of two ships... The Flying Dutchman in 1902 and Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975. We may never know, but this ridge is indeed one of the reasons why Lake Superior reigns among its Great Lakes peers.

31. Lake Superior is so big it's technically not a lake

Feature: It's hugeFact: It shouldn't be classed as a lakeWe know that the biggest recognizable difference between all the bodies of water like ponds, rivers, canals, lakes and the huge, vast ocean are, you know... the sheer, terrifying size of them! With Lake Superior, it's a little bit misleading because this body of water is SO big that technically it shouldn't be classed as a humble lake.

image source: reddit.com

It should be rather an inland sea - which would be a more apt description. We're sure you'll agree that Inland Sea Superior doesn't have the same ring to it, though... Although it's called 'lake', the 'Superior' part might give it away, though.

32. The water of the other Great Lakes still wouldn't fill it

Feature: It's so big that...Fact: The water of all the other lakes wouldn't fill itJust so you can get a better idea of just how big the Lake Superior actually is in terms of the water amount in it, if you take into account the amount of water in all the other lakes that make up what we know as the Great Lakes, Lake Superior itself still wouldn't be full to the brim!

image source: reddit.com

The water of all the other lakes combined still doesn't hope to compete with the amount of water in Lake Superior itself. Yikes! That's a lot of water. At least it gives you the option of avoided a crowded beach if you want the illusion of the sea instead of actually going, though...

33. The agates found at Lake Superior are some of the oldest in the world

Feature: Very old agatesFact: A billion years old!While Lake Superior is considered to be quite young for a lake, even though it's one of the biggest, the agates which are found at the lake aren't young at all. In fact, they're some of the oldest agates in the whole world!

image source: reddit.com

These agates can be found on the beaches at the lake if you were to start exploring them instead of swimming in the waters, and these agates formed around a billion years ago. These very old agates actually formed when lava emerged in the same location that Lake Superior lies, occurring when the North American continent made its split.

34. It takes about two centuries for the water to replace itself

Feature: A lot of waterFact: 200 years for water to replaceDespite the surprisingly massive size of Lake Superior in terms of its water content, there are actually only really small water outlets on this lake. It's these tiny water outlets that Lake Superior uses to get rid of its water.

image source: reddit.com

The outlets are so tiny that it actually takes a cycle of around two centuries for these water replacement cycle to fully take place. That's a lot of time (and water) to process! That's at least a casual 200 years for it to get rid of every single drop of water from the lake and replace itself adequately. That's a slow process, to say the least!

35. Fascinating facts about the Great Lakes: combined, they're 6 quadrillion gallons of water

Feature: The Great Lakes combinedFact: 50 miles north of Copper HarborWhen thinking about Lake Superior, it's important to think about the other great lakes, too. So how much water would it actually be if you were to combine them all? Well, it would be 6 quadrillion gallons of water!

image source: reddit.com

Nope, we can't picture it either! It's hard to wrap your head around the amount of water that's in a lake - and especially when we're talking about the Great Lakes (they're named great for a reason, after all!). The majority of the 6 quadrillion gallons of water in the combined amount is from Lake Superior. That's a whole lot of zeros: 6,000,000,000,000,000 gallons of water!

36. Their shorelines would equal half of the world

Feature: Vast shorelinesFact: They'd equal half of the worldWhen talking about the gargantuan size of these Great Lakes (in case you still can't fathom all those zeros that we most definitely can't wrap our head around either) it isn't just about the water content, you know. The massive stretches of shorelines on these lakes are pretty big, too.

image source: Cottage Life

If you were able to stick them all together and wrap them around the Earth itself, how far around do you think it would go? Well, if you were able to stick them all together and wrap them around the whole of the Earth itself, then it would reach halfway around it. That's pretty impressive!

37. 125 million tons of cargo pass through every year

Feature: Lots of cargo passes throughFact: 125 million tons to be precise!It's therefore no surprise that all of the Great Lakes together, not just Lake Superior, are a go-to shipping hub for cargo transportation, due to the amount of water, shoreline and their location. In fact, there's a huge amount of cargo passing through every single year: 125 million tons of it.

image source: reddit.com

The materials included in this are must-haves like stone, coal and iron, passing through every single year. That's not all, though. As well as these materials, there are agricultural supplies such as oats, soybeans and wheat that need to pass through. That's a lot of cargo!

38. The lakes have produced around 17 indigenous tribes

Feature: Indigenous tribesFact: 17 tribes are around themWe already mentioned about Lake Superior having several islands to its name - and that's just one of the Great Lakes. It might not be surprising to learn, then, that the Great Lakes Region has actually been the origin story of more than one indigenous tribe - in fact, a total of 17 different indigenous tribes all their thanks to the Great Lakes!

image source: reddit.com

That's a huge amount of tribes out there when you think about it. Thinking about the rarity and mystery of indigenous tribes, 17 is actually a huge number for one region and location. Some of these tribes go back as far as 10,000 BC.

39. The mystery of Bessie

Feature: mythological creature!Fact: It's still a mystery!As far as we're aware, Bessie has no relation to Nessie - the mythological creature from Scotland in the United Kingdom! Though maybe they're distant cousins... we'll never know. Anyway, back to Bessie. In another of the Great Lakes, Lake Erie, there was once a fabled monster named Bessie.

image source: reddit.com

To make this legend more amusing, the water of Lake Erie is actually really shallow - too shallow for a monster to be comfortably roaming, surely? Or it could be that the shallow depth of the water only makes it more likely to see its head popping up? Bessie is supposed to be a 40-foot-long snake-like monster!

40. Lake Erie is one of the most populated lakes

Feature: The most populated lake!Fact: Lots of activity!We don't actually know if this incredible legend of Bessie the gigantic snake monster has anything to do with more people flocking to this particular lake to live there - you decide. Either way, it clearly hasn't scared people off, because Lake Erie is the most populated lake of all the Great Lakes in North America.

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Or maybe they've just learned to live with the sea monster as a neighbor! Would you? There is a great deal of activity and industry surrounding the waters of this lake, including a huge amount of American cities and metropolitan areas, like Cleveland, Ohio.

41. Household waste was once dumped into the lakes

Feature: Used as a bin!Fact: Household waste dumped directly in the lake...One thing we know is how tragic it is to know how much waste is being dumped in lakes and the ocean, putting sea life and lake life at risk - especially with materials like plastic. Sadly, once upon a time a lot of household waste was actually dumped into the water of the lake Erie.

image source: reddit.com

This continued to happen over the course of a few centuries before a better way was found - and fortunately, the waste dumping stopped. Of course, a lot of industry, population and activity also means a whole load of waste. The waste from the cities had to go somewhere, and these lakes were prime location!

42. The Straits of Mackinac mean one lake is two

Feature: One lake is actually two!Fact: The straights run directly through themIf you haven't ever visited the Straits of Mackinac, you've likely heard of them - or maybe they're on your bucket list for a casual canoe trip or two! The Straits of Mackinac are actually the reason that two Great Lakes aren't just one big lake, due to the Straits running right through the middle of them.

image source: reddit.com

Namely, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron have been split. Lake Michigan itself is one of the most popular of the Great Lakes. These two lakes could be combined as one huge lake if it wasn't for this shallow waterway passing through the middle. These lakes also have the same water level as each other!

43. The curse of the Lake Michigan Triangle

Feature: A scary curse...Fact: Lots of disappearances in the triangle...We all love a bit mystery when it's associated with huge bodies of water (as long as we're nowhere near it - or near Bessie, for that matter). Another mystery hailing from the incredible Great Lakes region is that of Lake Michigan and its apparently cursed 'triangle'.

image source: Kate Berg

It's said that within this triangle there are many unexplained mysteries and disappearances that have happened throughout history... These include alleged UFO sightings and also the mysterious disappearance of a certain schooner that went missing in these very waters back in 1891. Did the aliens do it? Spooky!

44. Petoskey stones on Lake Michigan

Feature: Stones on the lakeFact: They are collectable itemsThere are many things to be found at The Great Lakes, and at Lake Michigan in particular, you can expect to find the Petoskey stones. These stones are a treasure that any beachcombers (and treasure hunters) will definitely want to look out for and collect.

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The stone is considered to be both a rock and a fossil, and it can be found on the beaches of Lake Michigan's shore if you have a sharp eye - and patience to check! The Petoskey stone hails from the prehistoric era and shows fossils of a Devonian period coral reef. There are other fossils to be found on this lake's shores, too!

45. Lake Michigan was once visited by pirates

Feature: Pirate attraction!Fact: They cause deforestationWhen we're talking about huge bodies of water, of course we're going to expect a pirate story or two! But it might not be Captain Jack Sparrow, unfortunately. Back in the 1800s, pirates set their sights on making shore at Lake Michigan, and when they did so, they caused a huge amount of deforestation in the area to get access to the timber.

image source: OnlyInYourState

As well as their actions even being linked to a particular ghost town... It's said the pirates' actions could have played a part in the fall of the famous ghost town Singapore in Michigan, known for being sunken and abandoned in the year 1871!

46. The discovery of USS Keystone State

Feature: Keystone stateFact: The ship embroiled in tonnes of mysteryYou may have already heard of the legend of The USS Keystone State, but in case you haven't, this was another ship embroiled in a ton of mystery when it comes to the legend of the Great Lakes - and what lies beneath them... This huge wooden steamship actually mysteriously disappeared during its operation in Civil War times...

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... after it had set sail from the shores of one of the Great Lakes: Lake Michigan. After it had set sail, it was officially considered lost... which made the discovery all the more shocking when it was found in recent years in Lake Huron, underwater!

47. The hunting site found beneath Lake Huron

Feature: There's an ancient hunting site thereFact: It's 9000 years old!Of all the mysterious and spooky things found underneath the deep, deep waters of the Great Lakes, this discovery has to be one of the most surprising! Under the waters of Lake Huron, there was actually an ancient hunting site found, believed to have been used for shepherding prey and discovered with collections of stone structures.

image source: ctvnews.com

The hunting site is believed to have been for hunting caribou specifically. It's located around 40 meters under Lake Huron's surface, and is considered to be an estimated 9,000 years old! You wouldn't have expected that under your feet when taking a swim!

48. The sinkholes under Huron

Feature: Sinkholes under waterFact: They are very dangerousSpeaking of Lake Huron - one thing you definitely don't want to know is anywhere near you when you take a swim is a sinkhole. Especially because the surface waters of Lake Huron are so calm, you may be deceived into thinking that sinkholes couldn't possibly be stirring under the surface... but they are!

image source: great lakes echo

Deep (very deep) below its surface, at the very bottom of the lake, there are actually sinkholes to be found. These sinkholes are filled with high amounts of sulfur, a very low oxygen level and contain rare ecosystems similar to those of the oceans as they were 3 million years ago!

49. Lake Ontario is deceptively deep

Feature: A very deep lake!Fact: A lot deeper than it looks, tooSo what we've learned here today is that basically every one of the Great Lakes is out to fool us, in one way or another! Especially when it comes to what's happening below the surface... The reason Lake Ontario might be deceiving you is because it's considered the smallest of all the Great Lakes in terms of surface area.

image source: reddit.com

But what's actually scary is how deceptively deep it is to say it's small on the surface... There is so much water under there that Lake Ontario actually has FOUR TIMES more water than Lake Erie does, even though Erie looks a lot bigger on the surface!

50. Another Lake Ontario?

Feature: Another lakeFact: Found on Saturn moonWhen we say Lake Ontario, there's only one that most people think of. But did you know there's another one? Okay, so technically it's not on earth, but still. The Lake Ontario we see in the northern US is actually one of two lakes of the same name. So where's the second one?

image source: Jet Propulsion Laboratory - NASA

The other Lake Ontario can be found in a galaxy far, far away... Well, no, actually in our galaxy, but it's found on Saturn's moon. The lake is found on the moon Titan - and the strange thing about this second Lake Ontario is that it's remarkably similar in surface shape and area to the one found in the US!