14 DAY TRIAL // Despite the fact that it is now spring, Lake Superior, i.e. the largest of the Great Lakes of North America, still packs quite a lot of ice.
In fact, NASA claims that, as evident in the picture above, about 60% of the Lake's surface is covered in ice. What's more, the ice is estimated to be about 8.9 inches (22.6 centimeters) thick.
In case anyone was wondering, the picture above was taken by NASA's Aqua satellite this past April 20 and was shared with the public on April 24.
To put things into perspective, it must be said that, around this time last year, ice was visible on just 3.6% of Lake Superior's surface.
Besides, researchers say that, by April 12, 2012, this body of water in North America was free of all its ice cover. Otherwise put, Lake Superior's spring look this year is nothing short of a head-turner.
Interestingly enough, specialists claim that the ice cover documented amongst all the Great Lakes for the week of April 16 is one of almost 40%. This means that it is at its highest level since 1996, when it reached nearly 20%.
Presently, Lake Superior is the world's largest freshwater lake by area, i.e. 82,100 square kilometers / 31,700 square miles, and the third largest by volume. Thus, it is estimated to hold about 10% of the total liquid fresh water on Earth.