Lake Superior Size Comparison

When you first lay eyes on Lake Superior, it doesn't look like a lake—it looks like an ocean. With its endless horizon, massive waves, and powerful storms, it's hard to grasp just how big this freshwater giant really is.

So, how big is Lake Superior? To put it simply: Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake by surface area in the world. But to truly appreciate its size, we need to go beyond the numbers and compare it to places, landmarks, and bodies of water we already know.

The Raw Numbers: Lake Superior’s Size

Before we start comparing, here are the basic dimensions of Lake Superior:

Surface Area: 31,700 square miles (82,100 square kilometers)

Volume: 2,900 cubic miles (12,100 cubic kilometers)

Maximum Depth: 1,332 feet (406 meters)

Length: About 350 miles (563 kilometers)

Width: About 160 miles (257 kilometers)

Shoreline: Approximately 2,726 miles (4,387 kilometers), including islands

These numbers make Lake Superior the largest of the five Great Lakes by both surface area and volume. But numbers can only say so much—let’s put it into perspective.

Lake Superior vs Other Great Lakes: Quick Size Comparison

Lake	Surface Area (sq mi)	Volume (cu mi)	Maximum Depth (ft)	Length (mi)	Width (mi)
Lake Superior	31,700	2,900	1,332	350	160
Lake Michigan	22,400	1,180	925	307	118
Lake Huron	23,000	850	750	206	183
Lake Erie	9,910	116	210	241	57
Lake Ontario	7,340	393	802	193	53

Bigger Than States, Countries, and Even Other Great Lakes

Lake Superior spans an incredible 31,700 square miles (82,100 square kilometers). That’s so big, you could fit entire U.S. states inside it.

For example, South Carolina, Maine, and Indiana could each fit comfortably within Lake Superior's surface area. It’s also larger than several countries—Austria, Ireland, and Czech Republic, to name a few.

Even compared to its siblings, the other Great Lakes, Superior stands alone. Not only is it the largest by surface area, but it also holds more water than all the other Great Lakes combined.

It Stretches Longer Than a Road Trip

Lake Superior is about 350 miles long—roughly the same distance as driving from Chicago to Detroit, or from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and back. Traveling the entire shoreline of the lake by car takes over 1,300 miles, and that’s without stopping.

Imagine planning a beach day and realizing it would take you over 10 hours to drive around the whole thing. It’s no wonder that people often mistake Lake Superior for a sea.

Wide Enough That You Can’t See the Other Side

The lake isn’t just long—it’s also 160 miles wide at its broadest point. That’s too far to see across, even on the clearest day. In fact, the width of Lake Superior is roughly the same as the entire state of Florida at its narrowest.

For most lakes, standing on one side means seeing the other. With Lake Superior, standing on the shore feels like looking out into open ocean.

Deeper Than Skyscrapers Are Tall

The depth of Lake Superior is equally impressive. Its deepest point plunges down 1,332 feet (406 meters). To put that into perspective, that’s deeper than:

1. The Empire State Building is tall
2. Three Statues of Liberty stacked on top of each other
3. Most of the world’s tallest roller coasters combined

This kind of depth is not just fascinating—it’s chilling. The lake’s cold, dark waters have become the final resting place for hundreds of shipwrecks, preserved perfectly by the frigid depths.

Enough Water to Drown Two Continents

Lake Superior holds about 2,900 cubic miles (12,100 cubic kilometers) of water. That’s enough to cover both North and South America in a foot of water. Yes, really.

It also accounts for 10% of the world’s surface freshwater. Not bad for a lake that sits quietly on the U.S.–Canada border.

The Ocean in Disguise

Lake Superior behaves like an inland ocean. It forms its own weather systems, creates massive wave surges over 30 feet high, and produces intense lake-effect snowstorms. Ships that cross it must be equipped as though they’re heading out to sea.

That’s why so many seasoned sailors refer to it with awe and caution. It may be called a lake, but in size and strength, Superior lives up to its name.

Final Thoughts: Respect the Giant

Lake Superior isn’t just big. It’s colossal. Bigger than states. Bigger than countries. Bigger than you ever imagined a lake could be. Whether you’re planning a visit, studying geography, or just love incredible natural features, understanding Lake Superior’s size helps explain why it’s so powerful, so dangerous, and so deeply respected.

It’s not just the biggest Great Lake—it’s one of the greatest freshwater bodies on Earth.