Lake Superior Day is celebrated annually on the third Sunday in July. This year, it falls on July 16. It’s when communities around Lake Superior get together and hold events as an appreciation. Lake Superior is the greatest of the Great Lakes of North America. On the day of celebration, there is typically free family fun, kids’ activities, food vendors, informational booths, live music, boat tours, and stand-up paddleboarding. Lake Superior Day is also for people to learn a little more about this Great Lake, as it holds 10% of the world’s fresh surface water.
History of Lake Superior Day
According to Lake Superior Magazine, Lake Superior Day was started in the 1990s by lake lovers in Thunder Bay, Ontario. It was then revived a decade later by the late Bob Browne of Superior, who had served in the Lake Superior Binational Forum. Lake Superior is the only one of the Great Lakes which is celebrated annually with its own day, on the third Sunday in July. With 10% of all the world’s fresh surface water in the backyard of Duluth, that’s truly a cause for celebration as well as for learning how to preserve and respect Lake Superior.Lake Superior is the world’s largest freshwater lake by surface area — 31,700 square miles. It’s the third-largest lake by volume, after Lake Tanganyika (the second largest) in eastern Africa and Lake Baikal (the largest) in Siberia. It holds 10% of the world’s fresh surface water, and its cold waters reach a depth of 1,332 feet. Lake Superior is shared by Ontario to the north, Minnesota to the west, as well as Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the south. If the waters of all of the other four Great Lakes combined, Lake Superior alone still holds more water — superior, indeed.Lake Superior is said to be the cleanest, clearest, and coldest of the Great Lakes. While providing clean drinking water, Lake Superior supports local shipping, commercial fishing, and recreational industries. Each of the 600,000 people living in the Lake Superior basin uses the lake’s water for daily needs. Also, the lake is essential for other creatures like fishes, birds, and plants. Lake Superior Day is here for the people to appreciate and celebrate this great, superior lake. So, you don’t want to miss the celebration that holds various activities to enjoy.
Lake Superior Day timeline
The first people arrive in the Lake Superior region.
The Shield Archaic peoples arrive, believed to be the direct ancestors of the Ojibwe and Cree.
The Ojibwe occupy all of Lake Superior’s shores.
Lake Superior Day is celebrated in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Lake Superior Day FAQs
Why is Lake Superior so brown?
It is because of the erosion of iron-rich soil along the south side of Lake Superior.
How many bodies are in Lake Superior?
There are said to be 350 shipwrecks in Lake Superior, and an estimated 10,000 people have died in the icy waters.
Is Lake Superior too cold to swim in?
Lake Superior is very cold, at an average temperature of 40-degrees Fahrenheit.
Lake Superior Day Activities
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Stand-up paddleboard
Celebrating and appreciating this superior lake through stand-up paddleboarding sounds like fun. You’ll most likely appreciate it more shortly afterward.
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Bring your family
There could be family fun and kids’ activities on the day, so you may want to bring your family to celebrate together. There could also be a community picnic and rock painting for kids.
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Reduce your use of water
You can appreciate the lake simply by reducing your use of water. But that’s just the simple one. You can also clean a storm sewer, clean up a boat landing, or create a water garden to celebrate Lake Superior Day.
5 Interesting Facts About Lake Superior
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Isle Royale’s the largest island on it
Isle Royale is the largest island on Lake Superior, surrounded by around 450 smaller islands.
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Thunder Bay’s the largest city on it
Thunder Bay is the largest city on Lake Superior, located in the province of Ontario.
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There are over 80 species of fish
There are more than 80 species of fish in Lake Superior.
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Its Ojibwe name means ‘great sea’
The Ojibwe name for Lake Superior is ‘gichi-gami’, which means ‘great sea.’
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The underwater visibility is 27 feet
Being the cleanest and clearest of the Great Lakes, Lake Superior’s average underwater visibility is 27 feet; 99 feet in some spots.
Why We Love Lake Superior Day
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It’s fun
There are typically activities held on Lake Superior Day, including stand-up paddle boarding and boat tours. So, the day will be a celebration in a really fun way.
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To appreciate
Around 600,000 people living in the Lake Superior basin use the lake’s water for daily needs. Lake Superior Day is for us to appreciate what the lake has provided.
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To preserve
One of the reasons for Lake Superior Day is to learn how to preserve it. We want future generations to enjoy the fresh water that Lake Superior provides, too.
Lake Superior Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | July 17 | Sunday |
| 2023 | July 16 | Sunday |
| 2024 | July 21 | Sunday |
| 2025 | July 20 | Sunday |
| 2026 | July 19 | Sunday |
