What are 10 facts about the Great Lakes?

What are 10 facts about the Great Lakes?

10 Deep Facts About the Great Lakes

• LAKE SUPERIOR IS BY FAR THE BIGGEST AND DEEPEST.
• ONTARIO AND ERIE ARE THE SMALLEST.
• ONLY ONE OF THE LAKES IS LOCATED ENTIRELY IN THE U.S.
• YOU CAN TAKE A 6500-MILE DRIVE AROUND THE LAKES.
• A FIRE PAVED THE WAY FOR MASSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL REFORMS.

What is so great about the Great Lakes?

The Great Lakes and their connecting rivers and channels make up the largest fresh surface water system in the world. Experts estimate that the Great Lakes hold more than 6 quadrillion gallons of water. That’s about 22 percent of the world’s fresh surface water supply and about 90 percent of the United States’ supply.

Are Great Lakes freshwater?

Shared with Canada and spanning more than 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) from west to east, these vast inland freshwater seas provide water for consumption, transportation, power, recreation and a host of other uses. The Great Lakes are one of the world’s largest surface freshwater ecosystems.

What are some physical characteristics of the Great Lakes?

Physical Features of Great Lakes

How were the Great Lakes named?

From the Ojibwe word mishi-gami “great water” or “large lake”. From the Wyandot word ontarí’io “lake of shining waters”. English translation of the French term lac supérieur “upper lake”, referring to its position north of Lake Huron.

How do the Great Lakes flow?

The lakes connect the east-central interior of North America to the Atlantic Ocean. Water flows from Lake Superior and Lake Michigan into Lake Huron; then through the Detroit River into Lake Erie; then through Niagara Falls into Lake Ontario; and then through the Saint Lawrence River to the Atlantic Ocean.

Why are the Great Lakes important kids?

The Great Lakes have huge economic value to the Great Lakes region. They’re a source of recreational activities, like fishing and boating. They’re also a source of commercial value for shipping, drinking water and commercial fishing. The Great Lakes contain 21% of the Earth’s surface freshwater.

What makes Lake Superior unique?

The average underwater visibility of Lake Superior is 27 feet, making it easily the cleanest and clearest of the Great Lakes. Underwater visibility in places reaches 100 feet. Lake Superior has been described as “the most oligotrophic lake in the world.”

What are 3 facts about the Great Lakes?

10 Great Lakes Fun Facts You May Not Know

• Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area.
• Lake Michigan’s shore is home to the largest freshwater sand dunes in the world.
• The Great Lakes are the largest freshwater system in the world.

How old are Great Lakes?

Geology. The age of the Great Lakes is still not definitely determined. Estimates range from 7,000 to 32,000 years of age. Water began filling the glacially scoured basins as soon as the ice receded, some 14,000 years ago.

What are the landforms of the Great Lakes region?

Topography. The landforms of the Great Lake – St. Lawrence Lowlands, with its rolling hills and slopes, were carved by glacial streams. Two of the most prominent geological features include the Niagara Escarpment and the Frontenac Axis.

What is the deepest part of the Great Lakes?

Lake Superior

• Not only is Lake Superior the largest of the Great Lakes, it also has the largest surface area of any freshwater lake in the world.
• With an average depth approaching 500 feet, Superior also is the coldest and deepest (1,332 feet) of the Great Lakes.

What are the 5 Great Lakes?

The names of the five Great Lakes are Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior. To easily remember their names, think of the word HOMES – it is made up of the first letter of each lake.

What are facts about the Great Lakes?

Great Lakes Facts. The Great Lakes contain 20 percent of the world’s surface fresh water. The 5 Great Lakes include Lake Erie, Michigan, Superior, Huron and Ontario. The Great Lakes are part of the St. Lawrence Seaway shipping route, allowing boats to travel from the Great lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

What states are in the Great Lakes?

Wisconsin. A view of the dowtown skyline of the city of Milwaukee,Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Michigan at twilight.

The Erie were also named after the exact word in French, short for Rhiienhonons, short for “raccoon nation”, probably referencing their totems. And finally, Ontario is named after the Wyandot word ontari:io, which is “great lake”. In conclusion, the names of the Great Lakes are 3/5 Native American and 2/5 French.