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Inviting you onto the waters of one of the most beautiful lakes in North America, Lake Superior cruises are an immersive, sought-after experience that can only leave you wanting more. The largest and most northern of the five Great Lakes, Lake Superior is a massive body of water, measuring nearly 32,000 square miles in its surface area, and surrounded by nearly 3,000 miles of shoreline.
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
A Brief History of Lake SuperiorLake Superior has been used for all kinds of trade for as long as the historical record goes. It was originally settled by Archaic peoples around 8,000 BCE, and then the Laurel and Ojibwe (also known as the Chippewa in the US) tribes, where metals and other goods were commonly traded. Later on, the Hudson Bay Company began trading furs during the 1600s. Then, the very first Soo Locks were made by 1793, allowing travel between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. And eventually in 1959, the St. Lawrence Seaway opened, creating a clear path for trade across North America, directly through The Great Lakes.
Find Nature with Lake SuperiorDespite its common use for trade throughout history, most parts of Lake Superior still remain largely untouched by mankind. Sailing on Lake Superior, you'll come across multiple parks and wildlife reserves, some of which once hosted astounding numbers of caribou, wolves, and other rare creatures. Along with countless provincial and state parks, there are now five national parks located along the lake:
With our selection of Lake Superior cruises, you'll have the chance to see all these, passing the Keweenaw Peninsula and the towering cliffs of the Sleeping Giant in Thunder Bay.
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Lake Superior
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Elevation |
601 ft |
Surface Area |
31,700 mi² |
Drainage Area |
49,300 mi² |
Volume of Water |
2,900 mi³ |
Avg Depth |
483 ft |
Max Depth |
1,332 ft |
Length (N-S) |
160 mi |
Length (E-W) |
350 mi |
Length of Shoreline |
2,726 mi |
Avg Surface Temp |
43º F |
Retention Time |
191 years |
Avg Outflow |
76,000 f³/s |
Read more on the "Physical Features of the Great Lakes" from the EPA .
Lake Superior
By the Numbers
Elevation |
183 m |
Surface Area |
82,100 km² |
Drainage Area |
127,700 km² |
Volume of Water |
12,100 km³ |
Avg Depth |
147 m |
Max Depth |
406 m |
Length (N-S) |
257 km |
Length (E-W) |
563 km |
Length of Shoreline |
4,385 km |
Avg Surface Temp |
6º C |
Retention Time |
191 years |
Avg Outflow |
2,152 m³/s |
Read more on the "Physical Features of the Great Lakes" from the EPA
Zodiac Boat Tours
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Lake Superior DestinationsEach of our cruise lines features at least one available excursion at every port of call on Lake Superior. No longer just reserved for top-tier Great Lakes luxury cruises, you'll find fantastic excursions that invite you to experience cultural traditions firsthand, trek the wilds of North America, or even kayak along the coast.
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The large lake also happens to feature many of the best Great Lakes destinations, including Thunder Bay, the Apostle Islands, and Duluth. More often than not, you'll have the chance to get out and explore the cities and natural areas your ship stops in, due to the smaller, more navigable nature of cruise ships traveling the lakes. Many of our cruise lines, like Viking Expeditions and Ponant Explorers, also offer Lake Superior boat tours aboard small Zodiac boats. These exciting tours get you up close to nature, unique birdwatching opportunities, and wild rock formations you wouldn't see otherwise -- unless you went for a not-so-fun swim.
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Cruise to the Top Lake Superior Destinations |
More Interesting Info for Your Lake Superior Cruise
Lake Superior Geology
Lake Superior boasts the most dynamic geological history of any of the Great Lakes. It's large surface area is surrounded by the states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ontario. The various attractions offered in these ports of call make Lake Superior cruises a guest-favorite for cruising the Great Lakes.
Lake Superior Iron Ore Trail
Thornapple River Rail Series presents Michigan's Iron Ore Trail: The Lake Superior and Ishpeming Ore Dock.
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The Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad's Ore Dock has stood above the waters of Lake Superior for over a hundred years, serving as the gateway to the steel mills for ore from the Marquette Iron Range. With 200 pockets, this classic gravity-drop pocket dock has served its function continuously since it opened, except for the brief winter shutdown when the lakes freeze over.
In this video, you'll see how ships berth at the dock and take on their load of iron ore. From dumping the ore into the dock to raising and lowering the chutes, it's all here as both the LS and I Ship crews work to keep the iron ore flowing.
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On your Lake Superior cruise, you'll have the opportunity to see key parts of the Iron Ore Trail firsthand, a representation of one of the area's biggest resources.
