In the heart of Lake Superior lies an extraordinary underwater mountain known as the Superior Shoal, rising nearly 300 meters from the lake’s bottom. Discovered in 1929 and situated 70 kilometers away from the nearest shoreline, the shoal remains a mystery due to its remote location within the world’s largest freshwater conservation area.
Recently, a team of researchers from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ont., along with a film crew, embarked on an expedition to explore the Superior Shoal in early September. Their main objective was to gather crucial data regarding the shoal’s impact on the lake’s ecosystem.
According to Michael Rennie, an associate professor at Lakehead University, the Superior Shoal is a unique structure that could significantly contribute to understanding Lake Superior’s ecosystem. He compared underwater mountains like the shoal to seamounts in the oceans, highlighting them as hotspots of biodiversity and fish productivity.
The nine-day expedition to the Superior Shoal, supported by a Canadian government grant, saw Rennie and his team traveling on the research vessel Blue Heron from Duluth, Minn. Living and working aboard the trawler, the team conducted various studies to comprehend how physical processes such as currents and light penetration interact with the biological community on the shoal.
Rennie emphasized the potential role of the Superior Shoal in sustaining the health of Lake Superior’s trout fishery. Notably, unique strains of lake trout, including redfin, leans, and siscowet, thrive on the shoal and have managed to recover naturally from past fishery declines.
Parallel to the scientific research, filmmakers from Inspired Planet Productions documented the entire expedition. The team utilized a high-tech underwater robot, or a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), to explore the depths of the shoal with optimal clarity. The robot, equipped with advanced features, captured remarkable footage of the underwater world, including interactions with lake trout.
The footage obtained during the expedition will be part of a forthcoming series titled “Hidden Below: the Freshwater World,” shedding light on the significance of underwater mountains like the Superior Shoal and advocating for their protection. The exploration of the Superior Shoal left a profound impact on the team, providing a visual representation of the vast underwater landscape beneath Lake Superior’s surface.
