The Great Lakes are one of the world’s most valuable resources. They contain an incredible one-fifth of the world’s fresh water and sustain the lives of millions.
Come explore the five lakes and all their greatness, but understand that they are also at risk.
Will our lakes continue to be great?
What’s so GREAT about the Great Lakes?
A Journey Down The Five Great Lakes
The Great Lakes, known as the “inland seas,” are comprised of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. They border eight states and one province, cover 246,463 square kilometers, span 1,200 kilometers east to west and contain six quadrillion gallons of water. They are one of the most important systems in the world to support human life.
A Great Lake Community: Thunder Bay
A Kids' Perspective of Their Home on Lake Superior
Thunder Bay is one of thousands of communities that borders the Great Lakes. It is a quintessential town found at the head of Lake Superior. In the late 17th century, it became a fur-trading outpost on the banks of the Kaministiquia River and grew to be an important transportation hub, linking western and eastern Canada. Thunder Bay is often referred to as “The Lakehead” because of its location at the end of the Great Lakes shipping route. It is a city rich in culture, tradition and natural beauty.
Fresh Water: Vital to All Creatures
Our Most Valuable Currency
Fresh water is precious. Only a tiny share of all the water on Earth is fresh — more than 97 percent of water is too salty for us to drink; 2 percent is frozen in glaciers. Less than 1 percent is left for drinking, agriculture, industry, and nature. Of this 1 percent, the Great Lakes comprise 20 percent of the Earth's fresh water resource.
Does that make our fresh water the most valuable currency?
Water Levels Everchanging
Due to a variety of factors, the water levels of the Great Lakes continue to fluctuate every year. The strongest recovery is in Lake Superior, which forecasters estimate will break record levels set in the 1980s.
Fluctuations in water levels can have positive and negative impacts on our ecosystems. On one hand, the rising levels allow for commercial vessels to carry more cargo and recreational boaters to navigate through more channels of water.
On the other hand, two downsides to the rising lake levels are the risks of erosion and flooding.
Threats to the Great Lakes
Devastating Consequences
The Great Lakes face a number of threats including pollution, invasive species and habitat loss. Why are these threats so dangerous? Many communities rely on the Great Lakes to support their economy, their agriculture and their way of life.
Our Lakes. Our Lives.
Make a Difference
What can you do? Our Great Lakes need hands and voices that will work to repair the damage that has been done to the waterways. You can begin making a difference by learning more about sustainable agriculture, clean water policies or water cleanup efforts to make sure the Great Lakes stay great!
The Great Lakes are not the world’s only fresh water sources.
You can use your hands and voices to protect freshwater sources in your area.