Lake Superior Watershed Basin

Lake Superior has the largest surface area of any freshwater lake in the world. Its drainage basin includes parts of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Ontario.

Nearly 404 of Iron County’s 757 square miles of land area are within the Lake Superior drainage basin, which encompasses the Town’s of Saxon, Gurney, Kimball, Pence and portions of Anderson, Knight, Carey, Oma, and Mercer. The county’s largest municipality, and county seat - the City of Hurley, is also located within the basin.

Lake Superior has the largest surface area of any freshwater lake in the world. Its drainage basin includes parts of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Ontario.

Nearly 404 of Iron County’s 757 square miles of land area are within the Lake Superior drainage basin, which encompasses the Town’s of Saxon, Gurney, Kimball, Pence and portions of Anderson, Knight, Carey, Oma, and Mercer. The county’s largest municipality, and county seat - the City of Hurley, is also located within the basin.

Iron County also has approximately 7.5 miles of mainland Lake Superior coastline. Land ownership along the coast consists of tribal ownership, Iron County Forest, and private holdings. Much of this coastline is undeveloped, remaining in a primarily forested state. The 125,000 acre Bad River Indian Reservation occupies 3.6 miles, or nearly half of the county’s total Lake Superior coastline.

For more information about general surface water characteristics, Lake Superior shoreline characteristics, Department of Natural Resources list of impaired and outstanding waters in Iron County check out the Land & Water Resource Management Plan.

Iron County also has approximately 7.5 miles of mainland Lake Superior coastline. Land ownership along the coast consists of tribal ownership, Iron County Forest, and private holdings. Much of this coastline is undeveloped, remaining in a primarily forested state. The 125,000 acre Bad River Indian Reservation occupies 3.6 miles, or nearly half of the county’s total Lake Superior coastline.

For more information about general surface water characteristics, Lake Superior shoreline characteristics, Department of Natural Resources list of impaired and outstanding waters in Iron County check out the Land & Water Resource Management Plan.