Lake Superior

freshwater · Great Lakes · North America · geography

Biggest freshwater lake. Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world when you measure it by surface area, which means it covers more ground than any other freshwater lake on Earth.

Spans two countries. Lake Superior sits right on the border between Canada and the United States, with Ontario to the north and east, while Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin are to the south and west.

Connects to the ocean. Water from Lake Superior drains into Lake Huron through the St. Marys River, then flows through other Great Lakes and eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence River.

Highest of the Great Lakes. Lake Superior is not only the largest but also sits at the highest elevation of all the Great Lakes, making it a key starting point for water flowing toward the Atlantic Ocean.

Enormous by volume too. While it's the biggest by surface area, Lake Superior is also the third-largest freshwater lake in the world when measured by total volume of water it holds.