The Great Lakes – Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario – are five freshwater giants that dominate the US landscape and cross over the Canadian border. Standing on their shores, you could be forgiven for thinking you were looking out to sea. These vast bodies of water have a collective volume of 6 quadrillion gallons. That’s more than one-fifth of the world’s total freshwater. The lakes provide drinking water to more than 40 million people, crucial shipping routes for more than 800 ocean vessels, granting them access to the continent’s interior, and sustain a rich ecosystem for fishing and agricultural practices.
Did you know?
Lake Michigan is the only lake entirely in the US