Lakes Upper Michigan Huron Erie Ontario. Great Lakes (North America)

09.11.2019

general information

The Great Lakes were formed at the end of the last glacial period, about 10,000 years ago, when the glacier began to retreat, and the melting water filled the valley, diverted with the ice. As the glaciers retreated, their edges were left sharp "cuts", which are visible today in Wisconsin and on the Bruce Press Putario, as well as Niagara's waterfall.

Five lakes make up more than 20% of world stock fresh water - 22 812 cubic meters. km. All five lakes are among the 18 largest lakes in the world, both in the area and by volume. The total area of \u200b\u200bthem is 151,681 square meters. km is more than the territories of England, Scotland and Wales, combined.

The upper lake is the biggest and deep, strictly speaking, its area exceeds the area Czech Republic. Lake Michigan - the second in volume, while the smallest Lake Huron is the second in the area. Lake Erie is the smallest and smallest in size, while Ontario lake is the smallest in the area. It is also located on a much lesser height than other lakes.

The Lakes flows from the River St. Lawrence, current to Quebec, past the Gaspa Peninsula, and flowing into Atlantic Ocean. In those days, when railways were not yet built, the River St. Lavrentia served as the main transport artery between large industrial cities on the shores of the lake. Today, tourism is an important component of the economy of both countries in the border, as well as industrial fishing.

Due to its size, lakes have an impact on the climate in the region. In summer, their water absorb warmly, maintaining coolness, while in the winter they protect the area from the cold. However, it is in winter the lake look most effectively. Dry continental air masses that are usually incoming from the West, absorb moisture lakes, and as soon as cold air over spaces to the east, heavy snowfall begin, sometimes snow falls a few feet height. They say that at this time the snow can go literally nowhere, with a completely cloudless sky.

On the shores of the Great Lakes are several national parks. Here you can ride on yachts and kayaks, fishing or engaged in snorkeling, and in the surrounding lakes, forests can be ride a bike, watch birds, walk in hiking And break tents. In the deserted areas on the shores of the lakes, bald eagles and herons are found, and in more secluded forests you can meet black bears-Baribals, wolves, moose and even under threat of disappearance Canadian lynx.

The pool of the lakes inhabit more than 33 million people, it is more than one tenth of the entire population of the United States of America and a quarter of Canada's residents. The governments of both countries are taking considerable efforts to prevent pollution of this area, striving to protect this magnificent land from the damage caused by civilization.

Great Lakes

english Great Lakes, Fr. Grands Lacs.

Great lakes, satellite view (April 24, 2000)









Location

45 ° C. sh. 84 ° h. d. H.G.IO.L.

Countries







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Schematic map of great lakes

Water levels in great lakes

On the formation of lake kitlovin the greatest influence render tectonic processes; Great lakes began to form at the end of the last glacial period, about 10,000 years ago, when the mass of the glacier sold the earthly bark, and after the glacier was melted, a slow reverse process began - glaciizostasiya, which is also very noticeable in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Boat and Finland. The water mass of lakes was formed when the glacier melting. North coast Great lakes rises faster than southern, which leads to the effect of "transfusion" of water and slow flooding of land in the south. Previously, great lakes had additional stock through the current River Illinois and Ottawa, but due to the same geological processes, they, being and so on near the banks of the lakes, changed their channel somewhat and radically changed the source. As a result, today the natural stock exists only on the river of St. Lawrence.

Geography

General

Great lakes are among the largest clusters of fresh water on Earth. Only Baikal, Green African Lakes and Greenland Glaciers and Antarctica can compete with them. They are interconnected by rivers and channels, and therefore water flows from one to another. The upper lake is the largest area freshwater lake Planets, and Ontario only - more largest Lake Ladoga in Europe. The average depth of them, not being very large, surpasses the middle depth of the Baltic and North Seas.

Length coastline (with islands) about 18 thousand km. The total area of \u200b\u200b244 106 km², the pool area is 768 thousand km² (including the area of \u200b\u200bthe lakes themselves), the total volume of 22,671 km³, in the four lakes of depths exceed 200 m and only the lake Ery the greatest depth of 64 m, and Saint Claire is only 8. The largest and most profound from the Great Lakes is the top lake, the smallest - Lake St. Claire.

There are several hundred mines of small rivers in the Great Lakes, the stock of lakes takes place along the St. Lawrence River, arising from Ontario lake and flowing into the Atlantic Ocean; The average water consumption in its source is 6637 m³ / s.

Previously, sewage waste, paper and other factories were reset to these lakes. Initially, Lake Erie turned out to be significantly contaminated, it turned out with a snack, many types of fishing fish were missing from it. The government allocated significant funds for the cleaning of lakes. Now lakes are relatively clean. Great lakes are very important leisure and shipping facilities.

Lake	Saint Clair	Ontario	Erie	Michigan	Huron	Upper lake
Surface Square	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.
Medium 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. Winor, Ontario	Hamilton, Ontario Kingston, Ontario Oshava, Ontario Rochester, New York Toronto, Ontario Mississogue, Ontario	Buffalo, New York Cleveland, Ohio Erie, Pennsylvania Tolido, Ohio	Chicago, Illinois Gary, Indiana Green Bay, Wisconsin Milwaukee, Wisconsin	Sarnia, Ontario Port Huron, Michigan Bay City, Michigan	Duluth, Minnesota Su-Saint-Marie, Ontario Tander Bay, Ontario Marquette, Michigan.

According to Georgue John King from the University of Rod Island, the water level is sensitive to climate change and can change more sharply in the XXI century.

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

Islands

About 35,000 islands are scattered over great lakes. The largest among them are Manitulin in Lake Huron, the most big Island in the world located in fresh Lake (area more Luxembourg Square); Inside it has its own lake - Manitis, inside which there are also several islets. Other large Island - Air-Royal on the top lake.

Lakes

Upper lake

Huron

Michigan

Erie

Ontario

Geology

The fundamental tectonic processes that have formed great lakes took place from 1.1 to 1.2 billion years ago, when two previously connected tectonic plates separated from each other and created the middle-continental rift.

Great lakes were estimated to be formed at the end of the last ice age (about 10,000 years ago), when the Lavrentian glacial shield retreated. The retreat of the glacier left behind a large number of melt water, which filled out pools carved with glaciers.

When the glacier retreat was first cleaned by the Ice of Lie Michigan and Erie. In their place, the lakes appeared one after another Chicago, Mom., Whitlsi. With a common drain into the Mississippi River Pool. When Ontario and Huron lakes were cleared of ice, lake was formed in their place. Algonquin With stock in Lake Erie. During the greatest development, the area of \u200b\u200bLake Algonkin reached 250 thousand km². With the retreating of the glacier lake Ontario formed as a separate reservoir - lake Iroquis - With a runoff across the Mogauh River in the Hudson River and Next to the Atlantic Ocean. Further retreating of the glacier opened stock across the river of St. Lawrence.

Climate

The climate of the Great Lakes is wet, moderate type, similar to the climate of the middle Baltic. For the area of \u200b\u200bthe Great Lakes are characterized by sharp differences of meteo conditions. This is due to the proximity of such different areas as cold hackons bay in the north and very warm Mexican bay in the south. The most variable season is winter, it is snowy, the active activity of cyclones is observed. With cyclones, frequent invasions of the arctic air are connected and frequent invasions at this time leading to a sharp cooling, while sometimes in a matter of hours are riveted with ice important for navigation. In winter, at first ice covers the lake top, then - Huron and Michigan, last time - Erie. Lakes are not completely mesh, but navigation stops, becoming impossible from December to April. Spring lasts long, freaks are frequent. Summer is cool, it, like winter, volatile, with frequent rains and strong wind. Autumn includes a period of up to two weeks, called "

Great Lake

One of the wonders of the nature of the North American continent is the Great Lakes. A huge network of freshwater reservoirs, interconnected by rivers and straits, is located on the border of the United States of America and Canada. It's five large lakes - Upper, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario. And the largest of them, and at the same time big Lake North America - Lake Top. The area of \u200b\u200bthis lake is 82.4 thousand km².

In the language of the Indian tribe, Ojibvy Lake is called Gichigami, which means "big water". This great lake is made in the song about Gayavate Longfello. Like the whole system of the Great Lakes, the top of the top formed due to the melting of glaciers. According to scientists, the Lake, the Lake, was formed during tectonic activities, and the glaciers began to melt 25-30 thousand years ago, which at that time covered this part of the American continent.

Upper lake

Lake top unique in nature. It is located high enough above sea level (183 m). Its maximum depth is 406 meters. The upper lake is not protected by mountain ranges, so the winds that follow the ocean can freely "walk" on the lake. As a result, large waves are often formed on the surface of the lake, which sometimes lead to the destruction of coastal areas.

The upper lake is the coldest of the Great Lakes. In summer, water in the upper lake is heated only to 5-12 ° C. The upper lake is connected to the Lake Huron across the Saint Meris River. The nutrition of the lake occurs due to the rains and the rivers flowing into it. Therefore, in the winter period, the water level in the lake is somewhat declining, because it is small rains at this time.

Shores of the lake

The coastline of the upper lake is strong enough. Northern shores of Lake Rocky and High, and can reach a height of up to 400 meters. South shores Basically low and sandy. On the lake, the top is also a lot of islands, the largest of them Isle Royal, Saint-Ignas, Mishipikoten and the Aposle.

By the way, the top lake is

One of the most beautiful corners of the continent is the territory known as the Great Lakes of North America. It is located in the pool and is known to almost the whole world as incredible. beautiful placewhere nature persists in immunity. What kind of lakes come there and how are they great? Does the continent have other large reservoirs of this type? Let's see and find answers to all possible questions about these unique natural places of the North American continent.

Group of Great Lakes

This unique natural conglomerate of water bodies is located on the border of the territories of the United States of America and Canada. Under definition, they understand a group of five main lakes, which are sometimes added and more modest in size. Nevertheless, the top, Huron, Michigan, Erie and Ontario are always mentioned first. Sometimes in North America also includes Sant Claire. In addition, the pool includes rivers - Niagara, St. Lawrence, Sant-Meris, Detroit. Waters in the local places are distinguished by minimal mineralization. More than one hundred seventy species of fish from families of Trodule, Karp, Okuneny, Salo, Sigovy, live in the water area. In the south, the territory is surrounded by industrial areas, and in the north - the region of the agrarian and commodity industry. In addition, on the shores there are cities like Chicago and Milwaukee, Cleveland, Buffalo, Detroit and Toronto.

The great lakes of North America are among the largest hydrogen systems - they contain eighteen percent of the global stock of freshwater. Replenishment of the basin occurs with precipitation, surface and underground flows.

Upper lake

This is the largest fresh reservoir on the continent. North America included in the great lakes of North America is inferior in volume only Baikal and Tanganic. Eleven and a half thousand cubic kilometers provide a reservoir confident third place. The depth of the upper lake averages one hundred and forty-seven meters, and the maximum reaches four hundred six. It is located between the United States and Canada. The coastline in length takes four thousand three hundred eighty-seven kilometers. All of it is cut by numerous coves and bays. The largest lake of North America in length occupies five hundred sixty kilometers, and in width - two hundred and sixty, which cannot even impress the one who is not familiar with the usual dimensions. From the southern part it surrounds the plain. In the north - rocks and rocks. Saint Marys River unites Lake with Huron.

It is believed that it was a reservoir due to the movement of tectonic plates, in which deep faults have arisen, and then the glaciers were leveled. One way or another unique placewhich is right to be considered natural miracle Sveta.

Huron

The lake, the location of which binds it to the Great Group, is known to mankind for a long time. Once the Indians lived here, by the name of the tribe and was nailed with a reservoir. They were engaged in agriculture, caught fish and hunted. During the colonization, these places attracted Europeans. The first here began to prevent the French by the coastline map. Woodworking factories began to appear at the lake and the search for minerals began. Indians practically disappeared from these edges. Huron is distinguished by a surprisingly long coastline, which makes up six thousand one hundred and fifty-six kilometers. There are many small islands on its territory.

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

Michigan

On the shores of this reservoir is one of the most famous US cities - Chicago. The Square of Lake Michigan is more than fifty seven thousand kilometers. White beaches, resembling the shores of the Atlantic, liked the Americans even at the beginning of the last century, as a result of the rest here became extremely popular. Despite the northern location, the reservoir is covered with ice only four months a year. Fishing is considered the most popular entertainment here. Like the largest lake of North America, the Great, Michigan is full of various types of salmon, perch and carp. Their fishing is carefully monitored by the Agency for Environmental Protection.

Other popular holiday is beach. The coastline in the length of forty kilometers allows you to place twenty-eight urban holiday destinations outdoors.

Erie

The fourth in the System of the Great, the Lake covers an area of \u200b\u200btwenty-five thousand seven hundred square kilometers. In the world it is in size to the thirteenth. Located in Canada and the United States, stretching from the west to the east. It is washes the borders of Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Ontario. From December to the beginning of April, Erie hidden ice. Numerous rivers fall into it - Detroit, Huron, Kujag, Grand, Reizin. Lake Erie surrounds several cities - Toledo, Buffalo, Cleveland, Monroe. The name of the reservoir is associated with local Indians - the tribe of Ereiyehonan. The average depth is nineteen meters, and the maximum equals sixty four.

Ontario

Listing large lakes North America, it is impossible not to remember it. His name is connected with the advent of local Indians and translated "beautiful." In the system of great Ontario is the smallest, but its volume is even more than Erie. The length of the coastline is slightly over a thousand kilometers. The maximum depth is two hundred forty-four meters, and the average equals eighty six. Most of Water falls here from Niagara, the rest deliver the river Humber, Osusigo, Jenshi, as well as precipitation. On the lake there are several islands, the biggest wolf. You can get to it only on the ferry.

Ontario almost never freeze. According to its shores there are cities like Toronto, Rochester, Hamilton, Kingston. Like many others large lakes North America, Ontario boasts large quantity Fish, variety of animals, plants and birds.

Saint Clair

The Great Lakes of North America, the list of which was given above may also include this reservoir. Saint Claire Lake takes a thousand one hundred fourteen kilometers square. Its depth is noticeably inferior to others and even in the maximum version does not exceed eight meters. The main river is the same name and associates Saint Claire with Huron. In addition, Tears, Saydengham and Clinton are shown here. River Detroit connects the lake with Erie. For the first time, Europeans were on the local shores in August 1679, on the day of St. Clara. In the southwest is Detroit, the city of the United States of America, and Winsor - it belongs to Canada. Right on the lake passes

Manitou

Listing the lakes of North America, the list cannot be not supplemented with this name. Manitu - unique lake. It is located on the island of Manitulin. Island, in turn, is located in Lake Huron. Thus, the manitis turns out to be inside it. At the same time, he has the most impressive dimensions with a length of twenty kilometers and a width of six. Interesting fact - On the manita, too, there is islands. They are also located lakes. The most complex system allocates this place among others. In addition, the manitis is incredibly salted water. Even those who decided to do this for the first time can lie down and swim. Around the lake is located that can be visited from May to October.

Napigon

In the North-West, Ontario province is another reservoir associated with the system of the Great Lakes. This is a NIPIA. The area of \u200b\u200bthe lake is almost five thousand kilometers, and the maximum depth equals one hundred sixty five meters. From Napigon, the same river flows out, which flows into the upper lake near the city of Tander Bay. The territory is famous for many deer Caribou, living on the shores. Once the lake was much larger and called Agassis. Modern name is associated with the word "continuous water" used by local inhabitants from the tribe of Ojibv. it perfect place For recreation, it is perfect for fishermen - here you can catch a pike, ciga, trout or pike perch. Catching is controlled by special services of a commercial nature, so it is not necessary to fear the ecology serious harm.

Nipissing

This lake is also located in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is located above sea level - at the height of a hundred ninety-five meters. Along the coastline there are small islands of apparent origin. It takes almost eighty kilometers, and in width thirty, with a maximum depth of fifty-two meters. The name is translated as "Little Water" - the reservoir is eleventh in size in the province. Here excellent conditions For habitat fish, which here lives more than forty species. The list includes lumps, perch, Sudakov, Sigov. The largest city is North Bay. For the first time, Nipissing saw the French researcher in the 1610th, over the next two hundred years the lake gained transport importance, and therefore people began to settle around it. When there were a Canadian Pacific railway, the number of population has increased rapidly. Now there are about fifty thousand people. In addition, a lot of tourists arrive in the warm season here. They are attracted here national parks Nature Conservation: Manitu Islands, West Sandy Island, Mashkinong and Saus Bay.

Other large lakes

It is worth mentioning a few more reservoirs that do not belong to the system of the Great, but still worthy of visits. For example, a large salty is the largest non-fresh reservoir in the United States. This lake is located in Utah. Connoisseurs of extreme conditions can go to Alaska. There is Lake Iliamna. It is interesting to look at the largest reservoir of the country, Oah, which is located on the border of the North and South Dakota. One more is located in Louisiana and is called Pontchartrayin. In California, water with similar properties is called Solton-si. Along the Canadian-American border, Shamplane, Riine Lake and Forestry are located - after acquaintance with them, you can go to the Great Lakes, which are quite close, in the same province of Ontario or New York.

Great Lakes (English. Great Lakes, Fr. Grands Lacs, sometimes the great Lavrentian lakes) - a system of freshwater lakes in North America, in the United States and Canada (Lake Michigan is entirely in the United States, on the rest of the lakes and connecting their short rivers. and Canada. Includes a number of large and medium water bodies connected by rivers and straits.

Actually, great lakes include the five largest: upper, guron, Michigan, Erie and Ontario, although sometimes the Saint Claire lakes are 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 surface in the world of fresh water (and 84% of fresh water reserves of North America). Several medium-sized lakes are connected with them, the most important of which are: Saint Meris, Manitu, Napiga, Nipissing. Lakesthe atlantic ocean pool, the stock on the river of St. Lawrence.

Tectonic processes have the greatest impact on the formation of lake boiling; Great Lakes They began to form at the end of the last glacial period, about 10,000 years ago, when the mass of the glacier produced the earthly bark, and after the glacier was melted, a slow reverse process began - glaciizostasiya, which is also very noticeable in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Boat Bay and Finland. The water mass of lakes was formed when the glacier melting.

The northern coast of the Great Lakes rises faster than southern, which leads to the effect of "transfusion" of water and the slow flooding of lands in the south. Previously, great lakes had additional stock through the current River Illinois and Ottawa, but due to the same geological processes, they, being and so on near the banks of the lakes, changed their channel somewhat and radically changed the source. As a result of this, today natural stock exists only on the river of St. Lawrence.

Shipping and fisheries are developed here. With the help of the channels formed a waterway for sea courts The length is about 3000 km. Great lakes are connected by channels with the Hudson River and the Mississippi River Basch.
Main ports: Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Toronto.

Great lakes are among the largest clusters of fresh water on Earth. Only Baikal and Greenland and Antarctica glaciers can compete with them. They are interconnected by rivers and channels, and therefore water flows from one to another. The upper lake is the largest on the area of \u200b\u200bthe Freshwater Lake Planet, and Ontario is one more largest in Europe Ladoga Lake. The average depth of them, not being very large, surpasses the middle depth of the Baltic and North Seas.

The length of the coastline (with the islands) about 18 thousand km. The total area of \u200b\u200b244 106 km², the pool area is 768 thousand km² (including the area of \u200b\u200bthe lakes themselves), the total volume of 22,671 km³, in the four lakes of depths exceed 200 m and only the lake Ery the greatest depth of 64 m, and Saint Claire is only 8. The largest and most profound from the Great Lakes is the top lake, the smallest - Lake St. Claire.

Previously, waste paper and other factories were discharged into these lakes. Initially, Lake Erie turned out to be significantly contaminated, it turned out with a snack, many types of fishing fish were missing from it. The government allocated significant funds for the cleaning of lakes. Now the lakes are again clean. Great lakes are very important leisure and shipping facilities.

Due to wind directions in cold seasons on the southern and eastern shores The lakes manifests the snow effect of the lake.

The water level in Lake Michigan remained almost constant for the twentieth century. According to Georgue John King from the University of Rod Island, the water level is sensitive to climate change and can change more sharply in the XXI century.

In January 2013, the Lake Level Michigan and Huron updated the record (from the moment of regular observations, 1918) a low water level (before this minimum was recorded in March 1964), about 2 meters below the maximum level (October 1986). There are several reasons for this: dredging work, mining, and soil erosion.

About 35,000 islands are scattered in great lakes. The largest among them are Manitulin in Lake Huron, the largest island of the world, located in a fresh lake (area more of Luxembourg Square); Inside it has its own lake - Manitis, inside which there are also several islets. Another major island is Air-Royal on the top lake.

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