One location in particular sticks out if you want to experience lake life in the United States.: Lake Superior. According to a Lake.com environmental study, it is the cleanest lake in the nation. It is the largest of the Great Lakes and this, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and the Canadian province of Ontario with about 350 miles wide and 160 miles long. It has the largest freshwater surface area in the world and is the coldest and deepest of the Great Lakes.
For visitors, the excellent water quality, as shown by its high oxygen content, low mineral content, and zero percent water pollution rating from Lake.com. make this place unique. Lake Okeechobee in Florida, for example, is less clear.
This transparent waters and beautiful landscapes makes Lake Superior an very good place place to swim, paddle, and boat for anyone looking for their next favorite nature spot.
Why Lake Superior is the cleanest
Lake Superior‘s water has a very low mineral amount and an very high oxygen content, according to the environmental study conducted by Lake.com. Although the lake has phosphorus that is beneficial to algae, it’s present in almost undetectable amounts. The 0/10 water pollution rating comes from this balance, which also helps the lake keeping an outstanding visibility.
The depth and size of the basin also help keeping stable conditions that protect the general quality of the water. For tourists, that means the best postcard views from plenty of viewpoints along Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, and also clear, calm weather that invites to enjoy shoreline hikes and kayaking.
Furthermore, the comparison with Lake Okeechobee highlights the point that not all large lakes are equally clear, which is why Lake Superior continues to draw tourists looking for safe to swim in transparent water and amazing views of the Great Lakes region and Ontario.
Beautiful roads and places you simply must see
The North Shore drive starts in Duluth and goes north on State Highway 61 in Minnesota, this is fantastic place to start. Before continuing on to High Falls in Grand Portage, near the Canadian border, you can stop at Gooseberry Falls, the historic Split Rock Lighthouse, and the striking cliffs at Palisade Head.
The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in Wisconsin is also particularly worth to visit. And when the weather allow it, you can kayak into the Meyers Beach Sea Caves or trhough the Lakeshore Trail. You can also kayak around the shorelines of islands and stay at the beaches. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula shows the lake’s crystal clear waters with beaches and colorful cliffs.
The 42-mile Lakeshore Trail follows the coast with so many views of the water that just seems endless, is a hiker’s dream. Isle Royale National Park, an island Archipelago in Lake Superior, is reachable by ferry or airplane for a more untamed, isolated experience. It really offers the kind of peace that you think you can only found going far from roads, with about 160 miles of hiking trails and so much wildlife.
Not a bad clean-water getaway
A unique combination of Lake Superior’s size, protected water quality, and convenient access to beautiful natural sites across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and neighboring Ontario makes it unique. The 0/10 water pollution rating from the Lake.com environmental study just validates what you will see: clear, clean, swimmable water and shorelines that look and feel pristine.
To plan your trip, pick a focus area and build from there, you have many points to choose from, and no matter which one you choose, you won’t be disappointed. But take in account that distances are large, so choosing one or two areas per visit keeps things relaxed.