One of the most beautiful corners of the continent is the territory known as the Great Lakes of North America. It is located in the basin of the St. Lawrence River and is known almost throughout the world as an incredibly beautiful place where nature is preserved in integrity. What kind of lakes are there and how large are they? Are there other large bodies of water of this type on the continent? Let's understand and find answers to all possible questions about these unique natural places of the North American continent.
Great Lakes Group
This unique natural conglomerate of water bodies is located on the border of the territories of the United States of America and Canada. By definition we mean a group of five main lakes, to which sometimes more modest in size are also added. However, Upper, Huron, Michigan, Erie and Ontario are always mentioned in the first place. Sometimes St. Clair is also included in the Great Lakes of North America. In addition, the river includes the Niagara, St. Lawrence, St. Marys, and Detroit rivers. The waters in these places are characterized by minimal mineralization. More than one hundred and seventy species of fish from the families of trout, carp, perch, salmon, whitefish live in the water area. In the south, the territory is surrounded by industrial areas, and in the north - the area of agrarian raw materials industry. In addition, cities such as Chicago and Milwaukee, Cleveland, Buffalo, Detroit and Toronto are located on the shores.
The great lakes of North America are among the largest drainage systems — they contain eighteen percent of the world's freshwater supply. Pool replenishment occurs with the help of precipitation, surface and underground currents.
Upper lake
It is the largest freshwater reservoir on the continent. Included in the Great Lakes of North America, Upper is second only to Baikal and Tanganyika in volume. Eleven and a half thousand cubic kilometers provide the reservoir with a confident third place. The depth of the Upper Lake averages one hundred and forty-seven meters, and a maximum reaches four hundred and six. It is located between the United States and Canada. The coastline is four thousand three hundred eighty-seven kilometers in length. All of it is indented with numerous bays and bays. The largest lake in North America is five hundred and sixty kilometers long and two hundred and sixty wide, which cannot but impress someone who is not too familiar with the usual sizes. From the southern part it is surrounded by a plain. In the north - cliffs and rocks. The St. Marys River combines the lake with Huron.
It is believed that a pond arose due to the movement of tectonic plates, in which deep faults arose, and then glaciers aligned them. One way or another, this is a unique place that is rightfully considered a natural wonder of the world.
Huron
The lake, the location of which connects it with the group of the Great, has been known to mankind for a very long time. Once upon a time there lived Indians, by the name of the tribe of which the pond was named. They were engaged in farming, fishing and hunting. During the colonization, these places attracted Europeans. The first to start settling here were the French, who made a map of the coastline. At the lake, woodworking factories began to appear and the search for minerals began. The Indians practically disappeared from these parts. Huron has a surprisingly long coastline of six thousand one hundred and fifty-six kilometers. On its territory there are many small islands.
Technological progress has changed the ecological system of the lake, many mollusks and fish have disappeared from the water, so the governments of Canada and the USA have developed a protective program.
Michigan
On the shores of this reservoir is one of the most famous cities in the United States - Chicago. The area of Lake Michigan is more than fifty-seven thousand kilometers. White beaches, reminiscent of the shores of the Atlantic, Americans liked at the beginning of the last century, as a result, holidays here have become extremely popular. Despite its northern location, the pond is covered with ice for only four months a year. The most popular entertainment here is fishing. Like North America’s largest lake, the Great, Michigan is full of diverse species of salmon, perches and carps. Their fishing is closely monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Another popular holiday is a beach holiday. A forty-kilometer coastline allows you to place twenty-eight urban vacation spots open for free.
Erie
Fourth in the Great System, the lake covers an area of twenty-five thousand seven hundred square kilometers. In the world, it is the thirteenth in size. Erie Lake is located in Canada and the United States, stretching from west to east. It washes the borders of Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Ontario. From December to early April, Erie is hidden by ice. Numerous rivers flow into it - Detroit, Huron, Kuyahoga, Grand, Reyzin. Lake Erie surrounds several cities - Toledo, Buffalo, Cleveland, Monroe. The name of the reservoir is associated with the local Indians - the Erielhonan tribe. Its average depth is nineteen meters, and a maximum of sixty-four.
Ontario
Listing the large lakes of North America, one cannot but recall this. Its name is associated with the dialect of local Indians and in translation means "beautiful." In the Great Ontario system is the smallest, but its volume is even larger than that of Erie. The coastline is a little over a thousand kilometers. The maximum depth is two hundred forty-four meters, and the average is eighty-six. Most of the water comes here from Niagara, the rest is delivered by the Humber, Osuigo, Genesi and rainfall. There are several islands on the lake, the largest is the Wolf. You can get to it only by ferry.
Ontario almost never freezes. On its banks are cities such as Toronto, Rochester, Hamilton, Kingston. Like many other large lakes in North America, Ontario boasts a large number of fish, a variety of animals, plants and birds.
Saint clare
The great lakes of North America listed above may also include this pond. Lake St. Clair occupies a thousand one hundred fourteen kilometers square. Its depth is noticeably inferior to others and even in the maximum version does not exceed eight meters. The main river bears the same name and connects St. Clair with Huron. In addition, Thames, Sydenham and Clinton flow here. The Detroit River connects the lake with Erie. For the first time, Europeans found themselves on the local shores in August 1679, the day of St. Clara. In the southwest is Detroit, the city of the United States of America, and Winsor - it belongs to Canada. Directly on the lake runs the state border.
Manitou
Listing the lakes of North America, the list cannot be supplemented by this name. Manitou is a unique lake. It is located on the island of Manitulin. The island, in turn, is located in Lake Huron. Thus, Manitu finds himself inside him. Moreover, he has the most impressive dimensions with a length of twenty kilometers and a width of six. An interesting fact - there are islands on Manita too. They also have lakes. A sophisticated system makes this place stand out among others. In addition, Manitou has incredibly salty water. Even those who decide to do this for the first time will be able to lie down and swim. Around the lake is a national park, which can be visited from May to October.
Nipigon
In the northwest of Ontario, there is another body of water associated with the Great Lakes system. This is Nipigon. The area of the lake is almost five thousand kilometers, and the maximum depth is one hundred sixty five meters. From the Nipigon flows the river of the same name, which flows into the Upper Lake near the city of Thunder Bay. The area is famous for the many caribou deer living along the shores. Once the lake was much larger and was called Agassis. The modern name is associated with the word "continuous water" used by the local inhabitants of the Ojibwe tribe. This ideal place to relax is perfect for fishermen - here you can catch pike, whitefish, trout or pike perch. Fishing is controlled by special services of a commercial nature, so there is no need to fear serious harm to the environment.
Nipissing
This lake is also located in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is located above sea level - at an altitude of one hundred ninety-five meters. Along the coastline are small islands of alluvial origin. The lake is almost eighty kilometers long and thirty wide, with a maximum depth of fifty-two meters. The name translates as "little water" - the pond is the eleventh largest in the province. Here are excellent conditions for the habitat of fish, which are inhabited by more than forty species. The list includes pike, perches, perch, whitefish. The largest city is North Bay. Nipissing was first seen by a French explorer in 1610, over the next two hundred years the lake acquired transport significance, which means that people began to settle around it. When the Canadian Pacific Railroad was nearby, the population grew rapidly. Now about fifty thousand people live here. In addition, in the warm season, many tourists come here. They are attracted here by national conservation parks: Manitou Island, West Sandy Island, Mashkinonge and South Bay.
Other large lakes
It is worth mentioning a few ponds that do not belong to the Great system, but are still worth a visit. For example, the Great Salt is the largest non-freshwater reservoir in the United States. This lake is located in Utah. Lovers of extreme conditions can go to Alaska. There is Lake Iliamna. It is interesting to look at the largest reservoir in the country, Oaxe, which is located on the border of North and South Dakota. Another salt lake is located in Louisiana and is called Pontchartrain. In California, a reservoir with similar properties is called Salton Sea. Champlain, Rainey Lake and Lesnoe are located along the Canadian-American border - after meeting them you can go to the Great Lakes, which are very close, in the same province of Ontario or New York.