Gitche Gumee, the big lake
The Ojibwe peoples see the shape of Lake Superior as a wolf’s head with Isle Royale being the eye of the wolf.
Growing up near the shores of Lake Superior (or any of the Great Lakes), water is always a constant. The largest and deepest of the Great Lakes, Lake Superior surrounds the Keweenaw Peninsula and has a profound effect on the climate and weather patterns here.
Gitche Gumee, the Ojibwe word for Lake Superior, is actually the world's largest lake by surface area and the third largest by volume, holding an estimated 3 quadrillion gallons, or 10 percent of the world's surface fresh water. It could hold all the water from the other Great Lakes, plus three more Lake Eries. When you are surrounded by that much water it’s easy to take it for granted.
Shore near Bete Grise.
I know many people are amazed when they first see Lake Superior as they expect to be able to see across the lake to the other shore. It really is an inland sea, hence the reason the Great Lakes region is often referred to as the fourth coast.
Because of its extreme depth, reaching over 1,300 feet, Lake Superior water temperatures are cold, typically 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit. Most of its shores are rocky but there are some pristine sand beaches on the south shore of the lake. The largest island in Lake Superior is Isle Royale, which is Michigan’s only National Park.
The Anishinaabe people, which includes the Ojibwe or Chippewa, have inhabited the Lake Superior region for over 500 years and were preceded by the Dakota, Fox, Menominee, Nipigon, Noquet, and Gros Ventres. By the mid-18th century, the Ojibwe occupied all of Lake Superior's shores. Lake Superior has been a source of sustenance both spiritually and in a physical sense for the Ojibwe peoples. The Ojibwe traditions are sacred here, continually reminding us to listen to and respect the waters.
For all its beauty and tranquility, Lake Superior can also be a beast. Annual storms on the lake regularly feature wave heights of over 20 feet, and waves well over 30 feet have been recorded in some areas.
Lake Superior influenced my career path and these big, beautiful fresh waters continue to awe and inspire me today.
Satellite image courtesy NOAA.