Lake Superior basin and its development

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · J. Great Lakes Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0380-1330(78)72196-9· OSTI ID:5501634

Matheson, D H; Munawar, M

Lake Superior is unique in having the largest surface area of any freshwater lake in the world; in volume it is second only to Lake Baikal. Its location on the edge of the Canadian Shield, in a rugged land and in a northern climate, has delayed and limited the cultural development of the basin. Natural loadings to the lake are small since the bedrock is resistant to weathering; man-made pollution is slight because of the low population density in the watershed. The lake surface occupies more than one-third of the basin area with the result that direct precipitation on the lake surface is the major source of water input. Atmospheric transport is considered to be one of the most important sources of chemical loadings, the ultimate origin of which may be quite remote from the watershed. The present state of our knowledge about the Lake Superior basin is reviewed from several points of view which include the historical, geological, physical, chemical and biological aspects. It is apparent that the influence of man-made pollution has not yet affected the lake-wide water quality, and most of the lake remains in a largely unaltered oligotrophic condition.

• Research Organization: Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Burlington, Ontario
• OSTI ID: 5501634
• Journal Information: J. Great Lakes Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Great Lakes Res.; (United States) Vol. 4:3-4; ISSN JGLRD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520100* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BASELINE ECOLOGY
ECOLOGY
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
GEOLOGY
GREAT LAKES
HYDROLOGY
LAKE SUPERIOR
LAKES
LIMNOLOGY
POLLUTION
SURFACE WATERS
WATER POLLUTION
WATER QUALITY
WATERSHEDS