A section of Lake Superior's North Shore, known for its pristine fresh water supply, will be declared a protected marine area, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is set to announce Thursday.

Harper will travel to Nipigon, Ont., on the northern shore of the lake to announce the creation of the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area.

The protected area includes 10,000 square kilometres of water.
(CBC)

Along with Environment Minister John Baird and Thunder Bay MP Joe Comuzzi, Harper will make the announcement on the edge of the new conservation area. It will extend roughly 140 kilometres east of Thunder Bay, taking in the zone's rocky coastline and islands.

It will also extend in a triangular shape down into the lake, encompassing about 10,000 square kilometres of water.

"It will become the largest freshwater conservation area in the world," said CBC reporter Margo McDiarmid.

The area includes endangered trout species and their spawning grounds, as well as caribou, which is unusual for that part of Ontario.

Planning for the new protected area has been going on for more than 10 years, beginning under the former Liberal government.

The north shore is known for its rocky shoreline.
(CBC)

It will protect the area from things like mining and oil and gas development — anything that could damage the water or delicate landscape.

"It's globally significant in this age of fresh water shortages and pollution," said Joannie McGuffin, of the Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy.

"Fresh water all over the world is the gold of today."

Environmentalists are delighted with the announcement, but point out Canada is a big country with many other areas also in need of protection.

"We have about eight per cent protected land across the country and in water, we have less than one per cent, so we have a way to move forward," said Sabine Jesson, of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.