Lake Superior drainage basin map

This map of the Lake Superior drainage basin contains a small inset showing the position of Lake Superior relative to the other Great Lakes - it is the most western Great Lake. The map, whose scale is in hundreds of kilometres and is oriented in the north direction, shows the Lake Superior drainage basin and all provinces, states, cities, Areas of Concern (AOC), and tributaries within it.

The Canadian province shown is Ontario. The United States (US) states shown are Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The international border between Canada and the US runs between Ontario and both Minnesota and Michigan, and through the middle of Lake Superior. In addition to the lake’s basin, the map also shows two smaller water diversions to the north: the Ogoki Diversion, and the Long Lac Diversion. Canadian cities shown (all in Ontario): Armstrong, Thunder Bay, Nipigon, Terrace Bay, Marathon, White River, Dubreuilville, Wawa, Sault Ste. Marie. Lake Nipigon is north of Lake Superior on the Canadian side. US cities shown in Minnesota: Grand Marais, Hibbing, Duluth. US cities shown in Wisconsin: Superior, Ashland, Ironwood, Houghton, Marquette, Sault Ste. Marie.

Canadian AOCs shown: Thunder Bay, Nipigon Bay, and Peninsula Harbour. Jackfish Bay, a Canadian Area in Recovery, is also shown. Areas in Recovery are those AOCs that have been remediated but require time and monitoring to ensure the intended environmental results are achieved. US AOCs shown: St. Louis Bay/River, Torch Lake and Deer Lake, which is now delisted. Delisted AOCs are AOCs that are remediated and removed from the list. Binational AOC shown, which are those AOCs that are shared by Canada and the US: St. Marys River.

Also shown on the map are tributaries. A tributary is a river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake. Thirteen unnamed tributaries to Lake Superior are shown along the north shore, located from Duluth, Minnesota in the west, to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario in the east.