Lakes are freshwater surfaces located on land. In this case, we are not going to talk about conventional lakes or their formation, but we are going to dedicate this article to the Great Lakes. It is a group of 5 large lakes that take place between the borders of the United States and Canada. These lakes break the schemes of everything we are used to seeing. For this reason, I think it is worth dedicating this post to know all his training and what repercussions they have on the rest of the ecosystems that surround him.
Do you want to know more about the Great Lakes of North America?
Characteristics of the 5 Great Lakes
These large lakes have not been formed like the normal size ones. Scientists have concluded that were formed about 13.000 years ago, after the last Ice Age. The large amount of ice from the mountain glaciers formed enough surface current channels that led to a more depressed terrain. In this case, by forming a basin where the land is inclined in favor of water storage, what we know today as the Great Lake could be formed.
Between the 5 lakes they cover a total area of 244.160 square kilometersThis amount of water corresponds to 21% of the total freshwater available worldwide. This fact makes us reflect on the importance of these lakes not only for the natural ecosystem, but also for humans. For more information on other large lakes, you can consult our article on the largest lakes in the world.
Although we name these lakes as separate entities, being formed on the same continent and not so far apart from each other, they remain interconnected with each other. In this way, they are creating a continuous stream of fresh water that encourages the proliferation of natural ecosystems, with good vegetation and associated fauna. In addition, in ancient times it contributed a lot to the formation of counties and civilizations that were established around these great masses of continental water.
The names of these lakes are Huron, Superior, Ontario, Michigan and Erie. They are all located between Canada and the United States. They are perfect for creating natural environments and potentially sustainable and economically interesting tourism activities. Furthermore, for travelers and tourists, these Great Lakes are a good option for a wonderful vacation or a well-deserved break.
Next, we will describe each of the lakes and their main characteristics.
Lake erie
This lake is the smallest of the 5. However, do not rush with a small word, since if we compare it with a conventional one, this is huge. It is the one most affected by man's activities. It is located around urbanizations and agricultural activities. This action of man causes the lake to receive certain environmental impacts that threaten its degradation.
It's not as deep as the other Great Lakes, and therefore warms more in summer and spring. In contrast, it can be found completely frozen in winter. Thanks to the fertile soils surrounding the lake, agriculture is possible. However, these activities have certain impacts on the water and soil, generating pollution that degrades the lake, a problem also observed in other bodies of water.
Its extension covers localities like Ohio, New York, Ontario, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.
Lake Huron
This lake is the third largest compared to the rest. It is connected to Lake Michigan by a hydraulic space known as the Straits of Mackinac. It is a significant tourist attraction, boasting large sandy and rocky beaches, ideal for those seeking relaxation in a natural setting.
Its surface extends to locations such as Michigan and Ontario. This lake's main tributary is the Saginaw River. It's also important to highlight how these lakes are interconnected, allowing for a continuous flow of water that benefits local flora and fauna.
Lake Michigan
We pass to the second largest of these 5 Great Lakes. It is located in the United States and does not have a border with Canada. Its dimensions are 307 km long and more than 1600 km of coastline. It's located in an area with a very cold climate. This doesn't stop it from being a winter tourist attraction, where you can enjoy snow sports.
The southern part is the most visited because it's warmer and contains two major metropolitan areas: Chicago and Milwaukee. Its surface area extends across Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin. A very interesting place to visit if you're interested in the region's natural history.
Lake Ontario
This lake is the deepest of allIn overall size, it's similar to the Erie River, but smaller, but deeper. It's a major tourist attraction in towns like Toronto and Hamilton, where you can enjoy various water activities. It extends through parts of Ontario, New York, and Pennsylvania. Its environment is more fertile than normal, so agriculture is also cultivated, a fact that highlights its economic importance in the region.
Lake superior
Its name already tells us that it's the largest and longest of all the Great Lakes. It contains the largest amount of fresh surface water on the planet. It has so much water that it could refill the other four lakes and leave even more water available to fill more lakes. It is on another level compared to the previous ones. It is the coldest of all and includes the towns of Michigan, Minnesota, Ontario and Wisconsin.
Because it belongs to such a cold climate, it is not widely inhabited. In the surrounding area, we find dense stands of trees, sparsely populated and planted. The soils are not particularly fertile, making them unsuitable for agriculture, although the ecosystem that thrives there is unique and diverse.
Some curiosities of the Great Lakes
- In the Great Lakes we can find more than 3.500 species of plants and animals.
- Lake Superior has more dynamics than a sea than a lake.
- There are more than 30.000 islands spread over the 5 lakes, but not so small that they are uninhabitable.
- Throughout history, there have been numerous shipwrecks in the lakes.
- The surface is so large that they are capable of forming storms as strong as those of the seas.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the Great Lakes of the world.
