  In this contribution I summarize our current knowledge of the nature and
significance of starburst-driven galactic superwinds. These flows are driven
primarily by the kinetic energy supplied by supernovae. Superwinds are complex,
multiphase phenomena requiring a panchromatic observational approach. They are
ubiquitous in galaxies in which the global star-formation rate per unit area
exceeds roughly 10$^{-1}$ M$_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$ kpc$^{-2}$ (a condition
satisfied by local starbursts and high-z Lyman Break galaxies). Data on X-ray
emission, optical line-emission, and optical/UV interstellar absorption-lines
together imply that the mass outflow rates are comparable to the
star-formation-rates and that the conversion of kinetic energy from supernovae
to superwind is quite efficient ($\sim$ 30 to 100%). Measured/inferred outflow
speeds range from a few $\times 10^2$ to 10$^3$ km/s and appear to be
independent of the rotation speed of the ``host'' galaxy. The outflows are
dusty (dust/gas ratios of $\sim$ 1% by mass). These properties imply that
superwinds may have established the mass-metallicity relation in elliptical and
bulges, polluted the inter-galactic medium to a metallicity of $\sim$ 10 to 30%
solar, heated the inter-galactic medium by up to $\sim$1 kev per baryon, and
ejected enough dust into the inter-galactic medium to have potentially
observable consequences.
