Lake Superior (known as Gichigami, or ‘big lake’ in Ojibwe) is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area and the third largest by volume, holding 10% of the world's surface fresh water. The lake straddles 150 miles of Minnesota’s northeastern border, with its most western edge ending along the city twin ports of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin.
January 18, 1990 - MPR’s Joe Kelly visits Grand Marais and reports on the battle over shoreline regulations. After initial attempts at a state and federal management plan, local residents created the North Shore Management Board, with a plan for environmental protection and orderly growth along the North Shore.
June 20, 1990 - MPR’s Tom Meersman looks at the recent concerns of zebra mussel appearances in the Great Lakes. The species was confirmed in the Duluth/Superior Harbor in 1989. There is a fear of the negative impact it will have on Lake Superior’s local ecosystem, businesses, and municipalities.
September 28, 1990 - MPR’s Tom Meersman reports on efforts by the Army Corps to locate 1437 barrels dumped into Lake Superior. The barrels originally came from the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant in Arden Hills from a project in which Honeywell was developing fragmentation grenades for the defense department. The secret dumping into lake took place from 1959 to 1962.
June 21, 1991 - With Grandma’s Marathon on the calendar, MPR’s Gary Eichten speaks with individual from Duluth on the greater tourist season in the city.
October 18, 1991 - MPR’s Paula Schroeder interviews Fred Stonehouse, author of the book "Shipwreck of the Mesquite: Death of a Coast Guard Cutter." Stonehouse discusses his book, Lake Superior shipwrecks in general, and the specific dangers of the lake.
April 24, 1992 - On this segment of Voices from the Heartland, Minnesota author Barton Sutter reads his essay on the Aerial Lift Bridge in Duluth. It details the iconic structure that borders between Superior Bay and Lake Superior.
May 22, 1992 - On this Voices from the Heartland segment, Minnesota author Barton Sutter reads his essay on Lake Superior, titled “God.”
May 25, 1992 - MPR’s Bruce MacDonald interviews author Carolyn Gilman about her book “The Grand Portage Story.” Gilman describes life at location hundreds of years ago during the fur trade.
June 5, 1992 - MPR’s Kitty Eisle interviews Howard Sivertson, a Grand Marais artist and author of "Once Upon an Isle: The Story of Fishing Families on Isle Royale." Sivertson details the past of Isle Royale fishermen.
July 10, 1992 - MPR’s Liz Hannon interviews Ann Schimpf and Paul Treuer, both from Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, about their sea kayaking experience during trip around Lake Superior. Schimpf and Truer talk from a campsite as they take a break from being on water and paddling through challenging fog. Schimpf also notes the water pollution they have dealt with.