What are the Great Lakes?

12.01.2024

Great Lakes(English Great Lakes, French Grands Lacs, sometimes also the Laurentian Great Lakes) - a system of freshwater lakes in North America, in the United States and Canada (Lake Michigan is located entirely in the United States, the rest of the lakes and the short rivers connecting them pass the border between the United States and Canada. Includes a number of large and medium-sized reservoirs connected by rivers and straits.

The Great Lakes proper include the five largest: Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie and Ontario, although Lake St. Clair is sometimes included in them, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth (total area 244,106 km², total volume 22,671 km³ ), containing 21% of the world's surface freshwater (and 84% of North America's freshwater). Several medium-sized lakes are associated with them, the most important of which are: St. Marys, Manitou, Nipigon, Nipissing. Lakes belong to the Atlantic Ocean basin, drainage along the St. Lawrence River.

The formation of lake basins is most influenced by tectonic processes; Great Lakes began to form at the end of the last ice age, about 10,000 years ago, when the mass of the glacier pushed through the earth's crust, and after the glacier melted, a slow reverse process began - glacioisostasy, which is also very noticeable in the region of the Gulf of Bothnia and Finland. The water mass of the lakes was formed when the glacier melted.

The northern coast of the Great Lakes is rising faster than the southern coast, resulting in a spillover effect and slow flooding of lands in the south. Previously, the Great Lakes had additional flow through the current Illinois and Ottawa rivers, but due to the same geological processes, they, being still near the shores of the lakes, somewhat changed their course and radically changed their source. As a result, today natural drainage exists only along the St. Lawrence River.

Shipping and fishing are developed here. With the help of canals, a waterway for sea vessels with a length of about 3000 km was formed. The Great Lakes are connected by canals to the Hudson River and the Mississippi River basin.
Main ports: Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Toronto.

The Great Lakes are among the largest bodies of fresh water on Earth. Only Baikal and the glaciers of Greenland and Antarctica can compete with them. They are connected by rivers and canals, and therefore water flows from one to another. Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake on the planet by area, and Ontario alone is larger than Lake Ladoga, the largest in Europe. Their average depth, without being very great, exceeds the average depth of the Baltic and North seas.

The length of the coastline (with islands) is about 18 thousand km. The total area is 244,106 km², the basin area is 768 thousand km² (including the area of the lakes themselves), the total volume is 22,671 km³, four lakes have depths exceeding 200 m and only Lake Erie has the greatest depth of 64 m, and St. Clair - only 8. The largest and deepest of the Great Lakes is Lake Superior, the smallest is Lake St. Clair.

Several hundred small rivers flow into the Great Lakes; the drainage from the lakes occurs along the St. Lawrence River, flowing from Lake Ontario and flowing into the Atlantic Ocean; the average water flow at its source is 6637 m³/sec.

Previously, waste from paper and other mills was dumped into these lakes. At first, Lake Erie turned out to be significantly polluted, it was overgrown with silt, and many species of commercial fish disappeared from it. The government has allocated significant funds to clean up the lakes. Now the lakes are clean again. The Great Lakes are very important recreational and shipping destinations.

Due to wind directions during cold seasons, lake effect snow appears on the southern and eastern shores of the lakes.

Lake Michigan's water levels remained virtually constant throughout the 20th century. According to geologist John King of the University of Rhode Island, water levels are sensitive to climate change and could change more dramatically in the 21st century.

In January 2013, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron reached a record low water level since regular observations in 1918 (the previous minimum was recorded in March 1964), approximately 2 meters below the maximum level (October 1986). There are several reasons for this: dredging, mining, soil erosion.

There are approximately 35,000 islands scattered throughout the Great Lakes. The largest among them are Manitoulin in Lake Huron, the largest island in the world, located in a fresh lake (an area larger than Luxembourg); inside it there is its own lake - Manitou, inside of which there are also several islands. Another large island is Ire Royale on Lake Superior.

The fundamental tectonic processes that formed the Great Lakes occurred 1.1 to 1.2 billion years ago, when two previously connected tectonic plates separated from each other and created the mid-continent rift.

The Great Lakes are estimated to have been formed at the end of the last ice age (about 10,000 years ago) when the Laurentian Ice Sheet retreated. The glacier's retreat left behind large amounts of meltwater that filled the basins carved by the glaciers.

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Great Lakes

English Great Lakes, fr. Grand Lacs

Great Lakes, satellite view (April 24, 2000)









Location

45° N. w. 84° W d. HGIOL

Countries







Audio, photo and video on Wikimedia Commons

Schematic map of the Great Lakes

Water levels in the Great Lakes

The formation of lake basins is most influenced by tectonic processes; The Great Lakes began to form at the end of the last ice age, about 10,000 years ago, when the mass of the glacier pressed through the earth's crust, and after the glacier melted, a slow reverse process began - glacioisostasy, which is also very noticeable in the region of the Gulf of Bothnia and Finland. The water mass of the lakes was formed when the glacier melted. The northern coast of the Great Lakes is rising faster than the southern coast, resulting in a spillover effect and slow flooding of lands in the south. Previously, the Great Lakes had additional flow through the current Illinois and Ottawa rivers, but due to the same geological processes, they, being still near the shores of the lakes, somewhat changed their course and radically changed their source. As a result, today natural flow exists only along the St. Lawrence River.

Geography

General

The Great Lakes are among the largest bodies of fresh water on Earth. Only Baikal, the Great African Lakes and the glaciers of Greenland and Antarctica can compete with them. They are connected by rivers and canals, and therefore water flows from one to another. Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake on the planet by area, and Ontario alone is larger than Lake Ladoga, the largest in Europe. Their average depth, without being very great, exceeds the average depth of the Baltic and North Seas.

Several hundred small rivers flow into the Great Lakes, the drainage from the lakes occurs along the St. Lawrence River, flowing from Lake Ontario and flowing into the Atlantic Ocean; the average water flow at its source is 6637 m³/sec.

Previously, waste from sewage, paper and other factories was dumped into these lakes. At first, Lake Erie turned out to be significantly polluted, it was overgrown with silt, and many species of commercial fish disappeared from it. The government has allocated significant funds to clean up the lakes. Now the lakes are relatively clean. The Great Lakes are very important recreational and shipping destinations.

Lake	St. Clair	Ontario	Erie	Michigan	Huron	Upper Lake
Surface area	1114 km²	19,000 km²	25,700 km²	58,000 km²	59,600 km²	82,400 km²
Volume	3.4 km³	1640 km³	480 km³	4900 km³	3540 km³	12,000 km³
Height above sea level	175 m	75 m	174 m	176 m	176 m	186 m
Average depth	3.4 m	86 m	19 m	85 m	59 m	147 m
Maximum depth	8 m	246 m	64 m	281 m	230 m	406 m
Main settlements	Detroit, Michigan Windsor, Ontario	Hamilton, Ontario Kingston, Ontario Oshawa, Ontario Rochester, New York Toronto, Ontario Mississauga, Ontario	Buffalo, New York Cleveland, Ohio Erie, Pennsylvania Toledo, Ohio	Chicago, Illinois Gary, Indiana Green Bay, Wisconsin Milwaukee, Wisconsin	Sarnia, Ontario Port Huron, Michigan Bay City, Michigan	Duluth, Minnesota Sault Ste Marie, Ontario Thunder Bay, Ontario Marquette, Michigan

According to geologist John King of the University of Rhode Island, water levels are sensitive to climate change and may change more dramatically in the 21st century.

In January 2013, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron reached a record low water level since regular observations began in 1918 (the previous minimum was recorded in March 1964), approximately 2 meters below the maximum level (October 1986). There are several reasons for this: dredging, mining, soil erosion.

Islands

Lakes

Upper Lake

Huron

Michigan

Erie

Ontario

Geology

When the glacier retreated, Lakes Michigan and Erie were the first to clear of ice. In their place, lakes appeared one after another Chicago, Momi, Whittlesey with total flow into the Mississippi River basin. When lakes Ontario and Huron cleared of ice, a lake formed in their place Algonquin with flow into Lake Erie. During its greatest development, the area of Lake Algonquin reached 250 thousand km². When the glacier retreated, Lake Ontario formed as a separate body of water - Lake Iroquois- with flow through the Mohawk River into the Hudson River and further into the Atlantic Ocean. Further glacier retreat opened up flow through the St. Lawrence River.

Climate

The climate of the Great Lakes is humid, temperate, similar to the climate of the Middle Baltic. The Great Lakes region is characterized by sharp changes in weather conditions. This is due to the proximity of such different areas as the cold Hudson Bay in the north and the very warm Gulf of Mexico in the south. The most changeable season is winter, it is snowy and there is active cyclone activity. Cyclones are also associated with frequent intrusions of arctic air at this time, leading to a sharp cooling, and sometimes areas important for navigation are covered with ice in a matter of hours. In winter, ice first covers Lake Superior, then Huron and Michigan, and lastly Erie. The lakes are not completely covered with ice, but navigation stops, becoming impossible from December to April. Spring lasts a long time and frosts are frequent. Summer is cool and, like winter, changeable, with frequent rain and strong winds. Autumn includes a period of up to two weeks called "

Great Lake

One of the natural wonders of the North American continent is the Great Lakes. A huge network of freshwater bodies, connected by rivers and straits, is located on the border of the United States of America and Canada. These are five large lakes - Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario. And the largest of them, and at the same time the largest lake in North America, is Lake Superior. The area of this lake is 82.4 thousand km².

In the language of the Ojibwe Indian tribe, the lake is called Gichigami, which means “big water.” This great lake is sung in Longfellow's "Song of Hiawatha." Like the entire Great Lakes system, Lake Superior was formed as a result of melting glaciers. According to scientists, the lake basin was formed as a result of tectonic activity, and 25-30 thousand years ago the glaciers that covered this part of the American continent at that time began to melt.

Upper Lake

Lake Superior is unique in its nature. It is located quite high above sea level (183 m). Its maximum depth is 406 meters. The upper lake is not protected by mountain ranges, so winds blowing from the ocean can freely “walk” across the lake. As a result, large waves often form on the surface of the lake, which sometimes lead to destruction in coastal areas.

Lake Superior is the coldest of the Great Lakes. In summer, the water in Lake Superior warms up only to 5–12°C. Lake Superior is connected to Lake Huron via the St. Marys River. The lake is fed by rain and rivers flowing into it. Therefore, in winter, the water level in the lake decreases somewhat, because there is little rain at this time.

Shores of the lake

The coastline of Lake Superior is quite indented. The northern shores of the lake are rocky and high, and can reach heights of up to 400 meters. The southern shores are mostly low and sandy. There are also many islands on Lake Superior, the largest of which are Isle Royale, St. Ignace, Mishipikoten and Apostle.

By the way, Lake Superior is

(G) 45 , -84

Water levels in the Great Lakes

Geography

The Great Lakes are not called Great Lakes for nothing. These lakes are the largest accumulation of fresh water on Earth. They are connected by rivers and canals and therefore water seems to flow from one to another. Lake Superior is second in size only to Victoria, and the smaller of the five, Ontario, is larger than Lake Ladoga, the largest in Europe. Their average depth, while not very great, is still such that it exceeds the depth of the Baltic and North Seas. Lake Superior speaks for itself. This is the largest and deepest, as well as the largest lake in the world. It occupies more than 80 thousand square meters. km. It drains into Lake Huron via the St. Marys River. Huron- the second largest lake in the Great Lakes system and the third largest freshwater lake in the world, occupying about 60 thousand square meters. km. The Straits of Mackinac connects Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River with Lake Erie. Michigan– the fourth largest freshwater lake in the world – 58 thousand square meters. km. The ship canal connects to the Mississippi system. Erie– the tenth largest freshwater lake in the world, with an area of approximately 26 thousand square meters. km. The Niagara River and Welland Canal are connected to Lake Ontario, and the ship canal is connected to the Hudson River. Ontario- the smallest lake in the Great Lakes system, with an area of about 20 thousand square meters. km. The St. Lawrence River is connected to the Atlantic Ocean. Now the lakes are clean again. Previously, waste from paper and other mills was thrown into them. Lake Erie was the first to give up; it became overgrown with silt, and many valuable fish disappeared. The government finally came to its senses and allocated a large sum to clean up the lakes. After that, posters could be seen in the United States: “Come and relax on Erie! It’s clean again!” From all of the above, it is clear that lakes are not only a huge accumulation of fresh water, but also very important objects for navigation and recreation.

The Great Lakes region includes not only five main lakes, but also numerous smaller lakes and rivers, as well as about 35 thousand islands.

Lake	Erie	Huron	Michigan	Ontario	Upper
Surface area	25,700 km²	59,600 km²	58,000 km²	19,500 km²	82,400 km²
Volume	480 km³	3540 km³	4900 km³	1640 km³	12,000 km³
Height above sea level	174 m	176 m	176 m	75 m	186 m
Average depth	19 m	59 m	85 m	86 m	147 m
Maximum depth	64 m	230 m	281 m	246 m	406 m
Main settlements	Buffalo, New York Cleveland, Ohio Erie, Pennsylvania Toledo, Ohio	Sarnia, Ontario Port Huron, Michigan Bay City, Michigan	Chicago, Illinois Gary, Indiana Green Bay, Wisconsin Milwaukee, Wisconsin	Hamilton, Ontario Kingston, Ontario Oshawa, Ontario Rochester, New York Toronto, Ontario Mississauga, Ontario	Duluth, Minnesota Sault Ste Marie, Ontario Thunder Bay, Ontario Marquette, Michigan

Transport

Shipping is developed on the Great Lakes. For cargo transportation, vessels of a special design are used - the so-called “Lake Trucks” or “Lake Trucks”, which can reach 300 meters in length and are the largest non-sea vessels in the world. Such a large length is due to the width restrictions that are imposed on ships when passing through the locks.

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See what “Great Lakes” are in other dictionaries:

A group of lakes in the North. America; Canada, USA. Includes lakes: Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, Ontario (see these names). Their general English name is Great Lakes Great (large) lakes ... Geographical encyclopedia

- (Great Lakes) system of lakes (Lake Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie and Ontario) in the USA and Canada. 245.2 thousand km², water volume 22.7 thousand km³ the largest accumulation of fresh water on Earth. River flow St. Lawrence (from Lake Ontario) in the Atlantic region... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Coordinates: 45°00′00″ N. w. 84°00′00″ W. d. / 45° N. w. 84° W d. ... Wikipedia

Great Lakes- a group of lakes in the North. America; Canada, USA. Includes lakes: Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, Ontario (see these names). Their general English name is Great Lakes Great (large) lakes, all of them are among the world's largest freshwater lakes ... Toponymic dictionary

Great Lakes- (Great Lakes)The Great Lakes, a group of five interconnected lakes in central North America, consists of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario. With the exception of Lake Michigan, which is entirely located in the United States, the rest are located on... ... Countries of the world. Dictionary

The African Great Lakes and the eastern coast of Africa from space. The African Great Lakes are several large lakes located in and around the East African Rift Zone. Includes Lake Victoria, the second largest freshwater lake in... ... Wikipedia

Great Lakes- Great Lakes GREAT LAKES, a system of lakes (Lake Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, Ontario) in North America (USA, Canada). Area 245.2 thousand km2, water volume 22.7 thousand km3, the largest accumulation of fresh water in the Western Hemisphere. River flow... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

One of the most beautiful parts of the continent is the area known as the Great Lakes of North America. It is located in a swimming pool and is known almost throughout the world as an incredibly beautiful place where nature is preserved intact. What kind of lakes are included there and how big are they? Are there other large bodies of water of this type on the continent? Let's figure it out and find answers to all possible questions about these unique natural places on the North American continent.

Great Lakes Group

This unique natural conglomerate of reservoirs is located on the border of the United States of America and Canada. The definition refers to a group of five main lakes, to which sometimes more modest in size are added. However, Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie and Ontario are always mentioned first. Sometimes in North America St. Clair is also included. In addition, the basin includes the rivers Niagara, St. Lawrence, St. Marys, and Detroit. The waters in these places have minimal mineralization. The water area is home to more than one hundred and seventy species of fish from the families of trout, carp, perch, salmon, and whitefish. In the south, the territory is surrounded by industrial areas, and in the north - by the area of the agricultural and raw materials industry. In addition, cities such as Chicago and Milwaukee, Cleveland, Buffalo, Detroit and Toronto are located on the banks.

The Great Lakes of North America are among the world's largest watershed systems, containing eighteen percent of the world's freshwater supply. Replenishment of the basin occurs with the help of precipitation, surface and underground currents.

Upper Lake

This is the largest freshwater body of water on the continent. Part of the Great Lakes of North America, Superior is second in volume only to Lake Baikal and Tanganyika. Eleven and a half thousand cubic kilometers provide the reservoir with a confident third place. The depth of Lake Superior averages one hundred and forty-seven meters, and the maximum reaches four hundred and six. It is located between the USA and Canada. The coastline is four thousand three hundred eighty-seven kilometers long. It is all cut up by numerous bays and bays. The largest lake in North America is five hundred and sixty kilometers long and two hundred and sixty kilometers wide, which cannot fail to impress even those who are not too familiar with the usual dimensions. The southern part is surrounded by a plain. In the north there are cliffs and cliffs. The St. Marys River connects the lake with Huron.

It is believed that the reservoir arose due to the movement of tectonic plates, in which deep faults arose, and then they were leveled by glaciers. One way or another, this is a unique place, which is rightfully considered a natural wonder of the world.

Huron

The lake, the location of which connects it with the group of the Great Ones, has been known to mankind for a very long time. Once upon a time, Indians lived here, after whose tribe the reservoir was named. They farmed, fished and hunted. During colonization, these places attracted Europeans. The French were the first to settle here, drawing up a map of the coastline. Woodworking factories began to appear near the lake and the search for minerals began. The Indians practically disappeared from these regions. Huron has a surprisingly long coastline of six thousand one hundred fifty-six kilometers. There are many small islands on its territory.

Technological progress has changed the ecological system of the lake, many shellfish and fish have disappeared from the water, so the governments of Canada and the United States have developed a protection program.

Michigan

On the banks of this reservoir is located one of the most famous cities in the USA - Chicago. The area of Lake Michigan is more than fifty-seven thousand kilometers. Americans liked the white beaches, reminiscent of the shores of the Atlantic, at the beginning of the last century, and as a result, vacations here have become extremely popular. Despite its northern location, the reservoir is covered with ice only four months a year. Fishing is considered the most popular entertainment here. Like North America's largest lake, the Great Lake, Michigan is filled with a variety of salmon, bass, and carp species. Their fishing is carefully monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Another popular holiday is the beach. The forty kilometer long coastline allows for twenty-eight city recreational facilities that are open free of charge.

Erie

The fourth in the Great Lakes system, the lake covers an area of twenty-five thousand seven hundred square kilometers. It is the thirteenth largest in the world. located in Canada and the United States, stretching from west to east. It borders Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Ontario. From December to early April, Erie is covered with ice. Numerous rivers flow into it - Detroit, Huron, Cuyahoga, Grand, Raisin. Lake Erie is surrounded by several cities - Toledo, Buffalo, Cleveland, Monroe. The name of the reservoir is associated with the local Indians - the Erielkhonan tribe. Its average depth is nineteen meters, and the maximum is sixty-four.

Ontario

When listing the large lakes of North America, one cannot help but remember this. Its name is associated with the dialect of the local Indians and translated means “beautiful.” In the Great system, Ontario is the smallest, but its volume is even greater than that of Erie. The length of the coastline is just over a thousand kilometers. The maximum depth is two hundred and forty-four meters, and the average is eighty-six. Most of the water comes here from Niagara, the rest is supplied by the Humber, Oswego, and Genesee rivers, as well as precipitation. There are several islands on the lake, the largest is Volka. You can only get to it by ferry.

Ontario almost never freezes. Along its banks are cities such as Toronto, Rochester, Hamilton, and Kingston. Like many other large lakes in North America, Ontario boasts a large number of fish and a variety of animals, plants and birds.

St. Clair

The Great Lakes of North America, the list of which was given above, may also include this body of water. Lake St. Clair occupies one thousand one hundred fourteen square kilometers. Its depth is noticeably inferior to others and even at its maximum does not exceed eight meters. The main river bears the same name and links St. Clair with Huron. The Thames, Sydenham and Clinton also flow here. The Detroit River connects the lake to Erie. Europeans first arrived on these shores in August 1679, on St. Clare's Day. In the southwest is Detroit, a city in the United States of America, and Windsor, which belongs to Canada. It goes right along the lake

Manitou

When listing the lakes of North America, the list cannot but be supplemented with this name. Manitou is a unique lake. It is located on Manitoulin Island. The island, in turn, is located in Lake Huron. Thus, Manitou ends up inside him. Moreover, it itself has impressive dimensions with a length of twenty kilometers and a width of six. Interesting fact - there are islands on Manitou too. They also have lakes. The most complex system sets this place apart from others. In addition, Manitou has incredibly salty water. Even those who decided to do it for the first time will be able to lie down and swim. There is a lake around which can be visited from May to October.

Nipigon

In northwestern Ontario there is another body of water connected to the Great Lakes system. This is Nipigon. The area of the lake is almost five thousand kilometers, and the maximum depth is one hundred and sixty-five meters. The river of the same name flows from Nipigon, which flows into Lake Superior near the city of Thunder Bay. The area is famous for the many caribou that live along the banks. Once upon a time the lake was much larger and was called Agassiz. The modern name is related to the word "continuous water" used by the local Ojibwe people. This ideal holiday destination is perfect for fishermen - here you can catch pike, whitefish, trout or pike-perch. Fishing is controlled by special commercial services, so there is no need to fear causing serious harm to the environment.

Nipissing

This lake is also located in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is located above sea level - at an altitude of one hundred and ninety-five meters. Along the coastline there are small islands of alluvial origin. It occupies almost eighty kilometers, and is thirty in width, with a maximum depth of fifty-two meters. The name translates as “small water” - the reservoir is the eleventh largest in the province. There are excellent conditions for the habitat of fish, of which more than forty species live here. The list includes pike, perch, pike perch, and whitefish. The largest city is North Bay. Nipissing was first seen by a French explorer in 1610; over the next two hundred years, the lake acquired transport significance, which means that people began to settle around it. When the Canadian Pacific Railway was built nearby, the population exploded. Now about fifty thousand people live here. In addition, many tourists come here during the warm season. They are attracted here by national conservation parks: Manitou Islands, West Sandy Island, Mashkinonge and South Bay.

Other large lakes

It is worth mentioning a few more bodies of water that do not belong to the Great system, but are still worthy of a visit. For example, the Great Salt is the largest non-fresh body of water in the United States. This lake is located in Utah. Connoisseurs of extreme conditions can go to Alaska. Lake Iliamna is located there. It is also interesting to look at the country's largest reservoir, Oahe, which is located on the border of North and South Dakota. Another one is located in Louisiana and is called Pontchartrain. In California, a body of water with similar properties is called the Salton Sea. Along the Canadian-American border are Champlain, Rainy Lake and Lesnoye - after exploring them, you can go to the Great Lakes, which are very close, in the same province of Ontario or New York state.