North America’s five Great Lakes are comprised of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and Lake Huron. They are the largest system of fresh surface water on earth and provide drinking water for over 40 million people, including about 8.5 million Canadians.
Lake Superior is the largest of the five Great Lakes in terms of volume, and it’s also the deepest and coldest. Lake Michigan is the second largest, followed by Huron, Ontario and then Erie. The combined shoreline of these lakes is equal to about 45 percent of the earth’s circumference.
No matter which Great Lake you live near, or visit, you might find yourself boating, fishing or swimming.
Check out our photo tour of the Great Lakes and get to know them a little better.
Lead photo: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
