If you want to know everything about the great lakes, you have come to the right place. Here you will learn where they are located, the maximum length of each one and their history, among other aspects of interest. The Great Lakes refer to the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world, and are also considered to be enclosed seas. Read on for more details…
What are the Great Lakes?
The Great Lakes are a group of five lakes that are located on the border between the United States and Canada and are Lakes Michigan, Superior, Erie, Huron, and Ontario.
The Great Lakes are located at various altitudes, among them, Upper Lake, Huron, Michigan, Erie, and Ontario cover a large area or expanse.
Each body of water is connected to each other by a system of straits, rivers and canals, joining with the Mississippi and Hudson River basin, forming a natural boundary line between the two countries.
This region covers six states including Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Ohio. The region located in the east-central part of the United States offers breathtaking scenery and unspoiled nature.
The Górne Lake reservoir is the largest in the whole resort. Its waters are said to be extremely capricious, however, it does not reduce the interest of tourists in this area.
There are also many water sports enthusiasts in this area, as the more difficult conditions are an unquestionable advantage for them.
People who are not convinced to relax in the water, which is characterized by rather low temperatures, will find many attractions on its surface.First of all, we are talking about various types of cruises, during which you can, for example, admire the beauty of the waterfront, mostly consisting of rocky cliffs.
In addition, you can decide to sail on a boat equipped with a glass bottom, making the underwater fauna and flora appear at your fingertips.
The transparent bottom has one more advantage, you will be able to observe shipwrecks in the crystal clear waters of the lake.
Lake Michigan is most often associated with photographs showing the water’s edge and the city of Chicago. Around its shore are concentrated places of this agglomeration that are attractive in terms of recreation.
However, this is not the only thing this reservoir has to offer. Like its big brothers, Michigan is characterized by an extremely clean water that allows to admire sunken ships and to make pleasant the aquatic tourism.
Erie and Ontario, the other two reservoirs, are famous mainly for the Niagara River that connects them.
Starting with the former, it created one of the most recognizable attractions in the United States, and that is the Niagara Falls located near Ontario.
The lakes are worth a visit, especially for fishing enthusiasts. The largest commercial breeding ponds located there, can be called a paradise for fans of this type of recreation.
Ornithology fans will also not be disappointed, and are sure to spend long hours on the wet shores of Lake Ontario, which are the natural habitat of many species of birds.
The Great Lakes, as its name suggests, is not a big attraction that can be seen in one day, as there are many attractions and you can even spend a whole week visiting the place.
Numerous water and land attractions are sure to satisfy the most demanding recreation and fun lovers.
Lake Superior
- Area: 82,410 km².
- Countries: united states, canada
- Coordinates: 47° 42′n 87° 30′w
- Maximum length: 563 km
- Maximum width: 257km.
Lake Huron
- Area: 59 596 km².
- Countries: united states, canada
- Coordinates: 44° 48′n 82° 24′w
- Maximum length: 332 km
- Maximum width: 295km.
Lake Michigan
- Area: 57 850 km² (57 850 km²)
- Country: united states
- Coordinates: 44 ° 01′02 “n 87 ° 03′04” o
- Maximum length: 449 km
- Maximum width: 193 km
Lake Erie
- Area: 25,700 km² (25,700 sq. km)
- Countries: canada, united states
- Coordinates: 42° 12′n 81° 12′o
- Maximum length: 388km
- Maximum width: 92km
Lake Ontario
- Area: 19 470 km².
- Countries: united states, canada
- Coordinates: 43° 42′n 77° 54′w
- Maximum length: 311km
- Maximum width: 85km
History of glaciation
Glaciation is a long process in which the global body temperature drops, and the glaciers and continental ice caps expand.
From millions of years ago to the present, the Earth has undergone various changes, and many of these changes are man-made and affect the natural course of the equilibrium of the structures of the planet.
There are said to have been four major ice ages in the past, and the Huronian Glaciation is considered the oldest hypothetical glaciation, occurring between approximately 2700 and 2300 million years ago at the beginning of the Proterozoic eon.
The oldest glaciation occurred approximately 850 million years ago and ended 630 million years ago, which produced a global glaciation that ended rapidly as water vapor returned to the atmosphere.
This phenomenon produced an increase in the greenhouse effect caused by the accumulation of carbon dioxide emanating from volcanoes, since the icy seas did not have the capacity to absorb the gas.
Another minor glaciation occurred between 460 and 430 million years ago, and it was the Andean-Saharan glaciation, which occurred in the Upper Ordovician and Silurian, with intervals with extensive polar ice caps between 350 and 260 million years ago.
The current glaciation is estimated to have started about 40 million years ago, after the expansion of one of the ice sheets in Antarctica.
Origin of Niagara Falls
The origin of Niagara Falls is due to a gigantic Canadian glacier that moved through the eastern area, and produced the glaciation of the American Lakes and the Niagara River.
At the same time, it is a product of the great water flows, and the erosion of the rocks originated the famous Niagara Falls that are located between the USA and Canada.
It is believed that this glaciation began approximately 10,000 years ago, according to some geologists.
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