According to this article on CNN today, University of Minnesota, Duluth researchers have determined that in the last 27 years, Lake Superior has warmed 4.5 degrees since 1979 as compared to the region’s 2.7.
When Kim, Chris, Laura, the dogs, and I went up there last July for a day trip and I took a swim in the lake, I was certainly shocked at how cold it was. If it was even fucking colder in 1979 and before, I don’t even want to think what it was like!
The article mentions that this change is due to the lessening ice cover over the lake during the winter months. Kim and I took a winter trip up to Duluth in March of 2005 and the ice actually made the lake look just as beautiful in the winter as it does iceless in the summer. I’d hate to see it have even less ice :(
Oh well, such is the nature of climate change.
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April 6th, 2007 at 8:50 am
I can’t believe you swam in it. I’ve dipped my foot in Lake Superior on a number of occasions and different seasons from Grand Marais, MN, the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin as well as Duluth, MN and Superior, WI… every time is a reminder that I’d never want to swim in it. You’re nuts!!! :-)
This is one of the coldest times I’ve seen the lake: Lake Superior / Duluth - January 20, 2001
April 6th, 2007 at 8:53 am
Yeah, it was fucking cold but it was mostly because the rocks on the beach were well over 100 degrees (I believe it was just over 100 degrees air temp) while baking in the sun and my superheated feet were VERY sore when going from that to 64 degree water.