Lake Superior Day at Barker’s Island

Lake Superior Day was celebrated on Barker’s Island in Superior, Wisconsin on Sunday July the 16th.

The event was full of free fun for all ages, live music, kids’ activities, stand up-paddle boarding, and food vendors, all focused on appreciating the Great Lake.

The event was coordinated by the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve operated by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

We spoke to one of the Education Coordinator at Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve, Luciana Ranelli on the significance of the celebration.

“I know it was created to highlight everyone’s connection to Lake Superior and its importance. It’s annually celebrated every third Sunday in July in communities in Canada and the United States all along the Lake Superior. These communities can all celebrate their own Lake Superior day like us here.”

She also highlighted specific educational resources the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve is providing to attendees at the event.

“They can learn that the water around Barker’s Island is not Lake Superior but St. Louis River and it’s also an estuarine, they can learn more about the native land that we are on plus the research done on tribal lands. They can learn about fires in Minnesota and Wisconsin points, they can learn about restoration projects at the Wisconsin department of natural resources and a lot more.”

Lake Superior gives people much to celebrate. It is the cleanest, coldest, and clearest of the Great Lakes. The largest lake by surface area in the world, it fuels local shipping, commercial fishing, and recreational industries while providing clean drinking water. Every day, each of the 600,000 human residents of the Lake Superior basin use water from the lake for drinking, home use, industrial use, or recreation. The lake is essential for countless fish, birds, animals, and plants.