As the concerns for global warming increase, Lake Superior, the world’s largest freshwater lake, has shown a drop in its water level – the lowest in 81 years leading to severe environmental and economic consequences.
The water in the Lake has receded 20 inches or 50 feet below the normal level resulting in dried wetlands, power plants running at half capacity, cargo ships carrying partial loads, and boaters struggling to find a place to dock. And it is not just a small portion of the lake recording such changes but the 2,800-mile shore of Lake Superior has shown extreme alteration too.
Lake superior the coldest and deepest of the Great Lakes has also shown a dramatic rise in average water temperature by 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1979. Such a rise in temperature has been attributed to drought and warm weather, which is directly linked to global warming.
However, locals attribute the changes to the draining of Lake Superior through the St. Mary’s River to raise the levels of Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. The amount of water flowing out of Lake Superior is regulated by an international agreement with Canada, which says how much water is allowed to pass through hydroelectric plants on the St. Mary’s River connecting Lake Superior and Lake Huron.
Superior isn’t the only prominent North American Lake at a drastically low level. Lake Mead near Las Vegas and Lake Powell on the Utah-Arizona border stand at half level. Lake Okeechobee in Florida is at a record low. Lake Huron and Lake Michigan are also at low levels, though not as extreme as Lake Superior.
Cargo carrying ships have to carry half their loads resulting in economic losses. Wetlands growing rice have gone dry. Wild rice beds in the Kakagon Slough of Bad River in Wisconsin have been badly hit. Owners of big boats not suitable for shallow water are occasionally forced to spend nights in deeper waters. It has affected the fish catch as well. However, away from shore, Lake Superior is at a reasonable level.
The U.S. is already facing the severest drought since the Great Dust Bowl disaster. Drying of the Great Lake is only adding to the problems.
Other reasons apart, but global warming are playing its own part in the recurring devastations on earth. It’s just the start, but no longer miles to go before the dragon (global warming) devours us all.
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Via: UsaToday