Upper Michigan Huron Eri Ontario. Great lakes of North America (USA and Canada): photo, video, where the great American lakes are located on the map. The Great Lakes of America: unique freshwater mirrors

Great Lakes(English Great Lakes, French Grands Lacs, sometimes also the Great Laurentian Lakes) - a system of freshwater lakes in North America, in the United States and Canada (Lake Michigan is located entirely in the United States, the rest of the lakes and the short rivers connecting them pass the border between the United States and Canada. Includes a number of large and medium-sized reservoirs connected by rivers and straits.

The Great Lakes proper include the five largest ones: Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie and Ontario, although Lake St. Clair is sometimes included in them, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth (total area 244,106 km², total volume 22,671 km³), containing 21% of the surface of the world's fresh water (and 84% of North America's freshwater reserves). Several medium-sized lakes are associated with them, the most important of which are: St. Mary's, Manitou, Nipigon, Nipissing. lakes belong to the Atlantic Ocean basin, runoff along the St. Lawrence River.

The formation of lake basins is most influenced by tectonic processes; Great Lakes began to form at the end of the last ice age, about 10,000 years ago, when the mass of the glacier pushed through the earth's crust, and after the glacier melted, a slow reverse process began - glacioisostasia, which is also very noticeable in the area of ​​the Gulf of Bothnia and Finland. The water mass of the lakes was formed during the melting of the glacier.

The northern coast of the Great Lakes rises faster than the southern coast, which leads to the effect of "transfusion" of water and the slow flooding of land in the south. Previously, the Great Lakes had an additional runoff through the current Illinois and Ottawa rivers, but due to all the same geological processes, they, being still near the shores of the lakes, have somewhat changed their course and radically changed their source. As a result, today natural flow exists only along the St. Lawrence River.

Navigation and fishing are developed here. With the help of canals, a waterway for sea vessels with a length of about 3000 km was formed. The Great Lakes are connected by canals to the Hudson River and the Mississippi River Basin.
Main ports: Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Toronto.

The Great Lakes are among the largest accumulations of fresh water on Earth. Only Baikal and the glaciers of Greenland and Antarctica can compete with them. They are interconnected by rivers and canals, and therefore water flows from one to another. Lake Superior is the world's largest freshwater lake in terms of area, and Ontario alone is larger than Lake Ladoga, Europe's largest. Their average depth, not being very great, exceeds the average depth of the Baltic and North Seas.

The length of the coastline (including islands) is about 18 thousand km. The total area is 244,106 km², the basin area is 768 thousand km² (including the area of ​​the lakes themselves), the total volume is 22,671 km³, four lakes have depths exceeding 200 m, and only Lake Erie has the greatest depth of 64 m, and St. Clair has only 8. The largest and deepest of the Great Lakes is Lake Superior, the smallest is Lake St. Clair.

Several hundred small rivers flow into the Great Lakes, the flow from the lakes occurs along the St. Lawrence River, which flows out of Lake Ontario and flows into the Atlantic Ocean; the average water flow at its source is 6637 m³/sec.

Previously, waste from paper and other factories was dumped into these lakes. At first, Lake Erie turned out to be significantly polluted, it was overgrown with silt, and many species of commercial fish disappeared from it. The government has allocated significant funds to clean up the lakes. Now the lakes are clear again. The Great Lakes are very important objects of recreation and navigation.

Due to the direction of the wind during the cold seasons, the lake effect of snow appears on the southern and eastern shores of the lakes.

The water level in Lake Michigan has remained virtually constant throughout the 20th century. According to geologist John King of the University of Rhode Island, water levels are sensitive to climate change and could change more dramatically in the 21st century.

In January 2013, the level of Lake Michigan and Huron updated a record (since regular observations, 1918) low water level (prior to this, the minimum was recorded in March 1964), about 2 meters below the maximum level (October 1986). There are several reasons for this: dredging, mining, soil erosion.

There are approximately 35,000 islands scattered across the Great Lakes. The largest among them are Manitoulin in Lake Huron, the largest island in the world, located in a fresh lake (area larger than the area of ​​Luxembourg); inside it has its own lake - Manitou, inside which there are also several islets. Another large island is Air Royal on Lake Superior.

The underlying tectonic processes that formed the Great Lakes took place between 1.1 and 1.2 billion years ago, when two previously connected tectonic plates separated from each other and created a mid-continental rift.

The Great Lakes are estimated to have been formed at the end of the last ice age (about 10,000 years ago) when the Laurentian Ice Sheet retreated. The retreat of the glacier left behind a large amount of meltwater that filled the pools carved by the glaciers.

One of the most beautiful corners of the continent is the area known as the Great Lakes of North America. It is located in the pool and is known almost all over the world as an incredibly beautiful place where nature is preserved intact. What kind of lakes are included there and how big are they? Are there other large water bodies of this type on the continent? Let's figure it out 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 reservoirs is located on the border of the territories of the United States of America and Canada. The definition is understood as a group of five main lakes, to which sometimes more modest ones are added. However, Upper, Huron, Michigan, Erie, and Ontario are always listed first. Sometimes in North America, St. Clair is also included. In addition, the basin includes the rivers - Niagara, St. Lawrence, St. Marys, Detroit. 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, and whitefish live in the water area. In the south, the territory is surrounded by industrial areas, and in the north - by the region of the agrarian raw materials industry. In addition, cities such as Chicago and Milwaukee, Cleveland, Buffalo, Detroit and Toronto are located on the banks.

The Great Lakes of North America are among the largest drainage systems, containing eighteen percent of the world's fresh water. Replenishment of the basin 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, the Upper Lake is second in volume only to Baikal and Tanganyika. 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 the maximum reaches four hundred and six. It is located between the USA and Canada. The coastline is four thousand three hundred and eighty seven kilometers long. 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 kilometers wide, which cannot fail to impress even those who are not too familiar with ordinary sizes. From the southern part it is surrounded by a plain. In the north - cliffs and rocks. The Saint Marys River connects the lake with Huron.

It is believed that the reservoir arose due to the movement of tectonic plates, in which deep faults arose, and then they were leveled by glaciers. One way or another, this is a unique place, which is rightfully considered a natural wonder of the world.

Huron

The lake, the location of which connects it with the group of the Great Ones, has been known to mankind for a very long time. Once upon a time, Indians lived here, by the name of whose tribe the reservoir was named. They farmed, fished and hunted. During colonization, these places attracted Europeans. The first to settle here were the French, who mapped the coastline. Woodworking factories began to appear near the lake and the search for minerals began. The Indians have 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 shellfish and fish have disappeared from the water, so the governments of Canada and the United States have developed a protective program.

Michigan

On the banks 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. Americans liked the white beaches, reminiscent of the shores of the Atlantic, at the beginning of the last century, as a result, holidays here have become extremely popular. Despite its northern location, the reservoir is covered with ice for only four months of the year. Fishing is the most popular pastime here. Like North America's largest lake, the Great Lake, Michigan is full of a variety of salmon, groupers and carps. Their fishing is closely monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Another popular recreation is the beach. Forty kilometers of coastline accommodate twenty-eight urban recreational sites open for free.

Erie

The fourth in the Great system, the lake covers an area of ​​twenty-five thousand seven hundred square kilometers. It is the thirteenth largest in the world. 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, Cuyahoga, Grand, Razin. Lake Erie surrounds several cities - Toledo, Buffalo, Cleveland, Monroe. The name of the reservoir is associated with local Indians - the Arielhonan tribe. Its average depth is nineteen meters, and the maximum is sixty-four.

Ontario

Listing the large lakes of North America, one cannot help but recall this. Its name is associated with the dialect of the local Indians and means "beautiful" in translation. In the Greater system, Ontario is the smallest, but its volume is even larger than that of Erie. The length of the coastline is just over a thousand kilometers. The maximum depth is two hundred and forty-four meters, and the average is eighty-six. Most of the water comes here from Niagara, the rest is delivered by the Humber, Oswego, Genesee rivers, as well as precipitation. There are several islands on the lake, the largest being Volka. You can only get to it by ferry.

Ontario almost never freezes over. Along 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.

St. Clair

The Great Lakes of North America, listed above, may also include this body of water. Lake St. Clair occupies one thousand one hundred and fourteen square kilometers. 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 links St. Clair with Huron. In addition, the Thames, Sydenham and Clinton flow into this. The Detroit River connects the lake to Erie. For the first time, Europeans found themselves on these shores in August 1679, on the day of St. Clare. In the southwest is Detroit, a city in the United States of America, and Windsor - it belongs to Canada. Goes straight across the lake

Manitou

Listing the lakes of North America, the list cannot be supplemented with this name. Manitou is a unique lake. It is located on Manitoulin Island. The island, in turn, is located in Lake Huron. Thus, Manitou ends up inside him. At the same time, he himself has impressive dimensions with a length of twenty kilometers and a width of six. An interesting fact is that Manitou also has islands. They also have lakes. The most complex system distinguishes this place from others. In addition, Manitou has incredibly salty water. Even those who decided to do it for the first time can lie down and swim. Around the lake is located which can be visited from May to October.

Nipigon

In the northwest of the province of Ontario, there is another reservoir associated with the Great Lakes system. This is Nipigon. The area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe lake is almost five thousand kilometers, and the maximum depth is one hundred and sixty-five meters. The river of the same name flows from Nipigon, which flows into Lake Superior near the city of Thunder Bay. The area is famous for the many caribou deer living along the banks. Once the lake was much larger and was called Agassiz. The modern name is associated with the word "continuous water" used by the local inhabitants of the Ojibwe tribe. This is an ideal holiday destination perfect for fishermen - here you can catch pike, whitefish, trout or walleye. Fishing is controlled by special services of a commercial nature, so there is no need to be afraid of causing 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 and ninety-five meters. Along the coastline there are small islands of alluvial origin. B occupies almost eighty kilometers, and thirty wide, with a maximum depth of fifty-two meters. The name translates as "little water" - the reservoir is the eleventh largest in the province. There are excellent conditions for the habitat of fish, of which more than forty species live here. The list includes pikes, perches, zanders, whitefishes. 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 a transport significance, which means that people began to settle around it. When the Canadian Pacific Railway was built nearby, the population skyrocketed. Now about fifty thousand people live here. In addition, many tourists come here during the warm season. They are attracted here by national conservation parks: Manitou Islands, West Sandy Island, Mashkinonge and South Bay.

Other major lakes

It is worth mentioning a few more reservoirs that do not belong to the Great system, but are still worth a visit. For example, the Great Salt is the largest non-fresh body of water in the United States. This lake is located in Utah. Connoisseurs of extreme conditions can go to Alaska. There is Lake Iliamna. It is also interesting to look at the largest reservoir in the country, Oahe, which is located on the border of North and South Dakota. Another is located in Louisiana and is called Pontchartrain. In California, a body of water with similar properties is called the Salton Sea. Champlain, Rainy Lake and Lesnoe are located along the Canadian-American border - after getting to know them, you can also go to the Great Lakes, which are located very close, in the same province of Ontario or the state of New York.

general information

The Great Lakes formed at the end of the last ice age, approximately 10,000 years ago, when the glacier began to retreat and melting water filled the valley carved by the ice. As the glaciers retreated, their edges left sharp "cuts" that are visible today in Wisconsin and Ontario's Bruce Peninsula, as well as at Niagara Falls.

Five lakes make up more than 20% of the world's fresh water - 22,812 cubic meters. km. All five lakes are among the 18 largest lakes in the world, both in terms of area and volume. Their total area is 151,681 sq. km - this is more than the territory of England, Scotland and Wales combined.

Upper Lake is the largest and deepest, in fact, its area exceeds the area of ​​the Czech Republic. Lake Michigan is the second largest by volume, while the shallower Lake Huron is the second largest. Lake Erie is the smallest and smallest in volume, while Lake Ontario is the smallest in area. It is also located at a much lower altitude than other lakes.

From the lakes flows the St. Lawrence River, flowing into Quebec, past the Gaspé Peninsula, and flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. In those days when the railroads were not yet built, it was the St. Lawrence River that served as the main transport artery between the large industrial cities on the shores of the lake. Today, tourism is an important component of the economies of both countries near the border, as is industrial fishing.

Due to their size, the lakes have an impact on the climate in the region. In summer, their waters absorb heat, keeping you cool, while in winter, they protect the area from the cold. However, it is in winter that the lakes look most impressive. Dry continental air masses, usually coming from the west, absorb the moisture of the lakes, and as soon as they reach the cold air over the spaces to the east, heavy snowfalls begin, sometimes snow falls several feet high. They say that at this time it can snow literally from nowhere, from a completely cloudless sky.

There are several national parks on the shores of the Great Lakes. Here you can go sailing, kayaking, fishing or diving, and in the forests surrounding the lakes you can go cycling, bird watching, hiking and pitching tents. Bald eagles and herons can be found along the lakeshores in deserted areas, while black bears, wolves, elks and even the endangered Canada lynx can be found in more secluded forests.

The basin of the lakes is inhabited by more than 33 million people, more than one tenth of the total population of the United States of America and a quarter of the inhabitants of Canada. The governments of both countries are making great efforts to prevent pollution of the area, trying to protect this magnificent land from the damage caused by civilization.

The Great Lakes of America: unique freshwater mirrors

Lakes are often called the pearls of the Earth. There are hundreds of thousands of them on our planet: completely different, large and small, tropical and subpolar. Each of them has its own peculiarity, its own, albeit small, secret. Among this great diversity there is a scattering of lakes known to the whole world, which are truly the decoration of the whole continent. These are the American Great Lakes.

Without them, the North American continent is unthinkable.

This unique lake system is located on the border of the USA and Canada. Even an attempt to describe them turns, in essence, into a listing of records. Most guides inform that the system consists of the "magnificent five": Lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie and Ontario. Sometimes Lake St. Clair is added to them, although it is much smaller in area.

There is one more feature. Lakes Huron and Michigan are interconnected not just by rivers, like all other lakes of the system, but by a wide strait. In addition, their surface level is exactly the same. Based on this, strictly hydrographically, this couple should be considered one body of water, but such an approach is inconvenient in the economic sense, and it contradicts, so to speak, the well-established folk habit.

The Great Lakes are striking in their scale. Their total area is a little more than 244 thousand km², the volume of water is 22,671 km³. Hydrologists have calculated that the Great Lakes contain 18% of the world's fresh water. And how not to compare them with the pearl of Russia, Lake Baikal! It is about 7.5 times smaller in area, but there is even a little more water in Baikal than in the Great Lakes - 24% of the world's freshwater reserves!

The comparison, in particular, makes it unequivocal that despite the vast area, the Great Lakes are relatively shallow. Indeed, the largest among them, the Upper, has an average depth of only 147 meters (at Baikal it is 744 meters).

The northern shores of the lakes are predominantly wooded, sparsely populated, suitable for recreation and tourism. A network of important industrial centers arose along the southern coasts.

All lakes are interconnected by rivers and narrow straits. Several hundred rivers flow into them, but they are all small, of local importance. Only one large river flows out of the system - the St. Lawrence. It carries the fresh water of the lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

The flow of water in this river significantly exceeds the amount that comes into lakes with small streams. The fact is that the food of the giants occurs mainly due to underground sources and precipitation.

The relief of the mainland in the place where the lakes are located has a general slope from north to south. Thus, the northernmost of the giants, Lake Superior, also has the highest height above sea level. The farther south, the level of the next lake is slightly lower. The largest difference is between lakes Erie and Ontario: the Niagara track flows between them with its world-famous waterfall.

The lakes are incredibly rich in fish, this is a real Klondike for fishing lovers. It is estimated that the Great Lakes are home to 174 species of fish!

History of the Great Lakes System of America

Geologists have determined that the Great Lakes system was formed, by historical standards, quite recently, about 12 thousand years ago. At that time, almost the entire surface of North America was covered with a thick layer of ice, apparently reaching at least a kilometer. The mass of ice pushed through the earth's crust, forming a kind of lens. These lenses gradually deepened under the influence of the glacier: he raked out their bottom, like a gigantic bulldozer.

When the ice age on the planet ended, the mass of ice melted, and part of its waters turned out to be in depressions, as if in a trap. Thus formed what is now called the Great American Lakes. Studying the chemical composition of the fossils, scientists came to the conclusion that in ancient times the water temperature in the lakes was much lower than now.

The amount of water reserves in the lake system is slowly but steadily decreasing. However, this trend is observed throughout the planet.

Brief description of the Great Lakes of America

Each of the Great American Lakes is unique, worthy of a separate large description. Only the most general information can be listed here.

Lake Superior

Even among such gigantic reservoirs, it is a giant! Suffice it to say that the volume of water in the lake is approximately equal to the total volume in the remaining four lakes of the Big Five. Among his records, the following should be mentioned:

• The largest freshwater lake in the world by area;
• The deepest among the Great Lakes;
• The northernmost in this group, and the most elevated relative to the World Ocean - 186 m above its level;
• During storms, the wave height here exceeds 10 meters.

The upper one is located mostly in Canada, its northern shores are usually rocky, covered with forests, the southern ones are gentle and sandy. The St. Marys River flows out of it, flowing into the Huron. Washes the states - Minnesota and Michigan.

Lake Huron

The coastline of Lake Huron is incredibly indented, and is more than 6 thousand km! (For comparison - from Moscow to Madrid only 3440 km). As already mentioned, the lake is connected to Lake Michigan by a wide (3 km wide) Strait of Mackinac.

It is characteristic that there are about 30 thousand islands on Huron, among them the largest is Manitoulin Island. It is remarkable at least for the fact that it bears the title of the largest earthly island located in a freshwater lake. The state of Luxembourg would fit on it, and there would still be some free space left. There are also lakes on Manitoulin, among them a large one - Manitou. And this is not the whole “matryoshka”, Manitou has its own islands with lakes!

The average depth of Huron is 59 meters. It borders the US state of Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario.

Lake Michigan

Of all the Great Lakes, only it is located exclusively in the United States. Its average depth is 85 meters, the length of the coastline is over 1.5 thousand km. The lake is covered with ice for several months of the year. The reservoir suffers from industrial load, because such a large city as Chicago is located in the immediate vicinity. In recent decades, the country's authorities have been doing a lot to improve the ecological picture in Michigan, and there are great successes in this direction.

Lake Erie

Stretched from southwest to northeast for 390 km. The average depth is 19 meters. It is mainly located in the United States, but also enters the Canadian province of Ontario. Due to the shallow depth, the waters of the lake warm up well, so there is excellent fishing, as well as many farms breeding fry. However, the so-called "dead zones" associated with phosphorite pollution are also observed in the lake. These zones have been significantly reduced in the last 20 years. The shores of Erie are also famous for their vineyards, because the climate here is milder than in places similar in latitude, but far from the water.

Lake Ontario

The smallest in area among the "big five", with an average depth of 86 meters. It closes the entire system, dumping water into the Atlantic. The largest cities in the area are Toronto, Kingston and Rochester. The proximity of the ocean and shallow depth lead to the fact that the lake never freezes, there are almost no storms here. There are many nature reserves, places for organized family holidays on the coast; No wonder the name of the lake from the language of the Huron Indians is translated as “beautiful”.

Interesting facts about America's Great Lakes

The entire system of the Great American Lakes is a huge network of canals, rivers, shipping routes, the total length of which exceeds 3 thousand km. Lakes provide work and water to tens of millions of people. The total length of the coastline of the unique lake system is about 18 thousand km, which significantly exceeds the length of the US land border!

It is noteworthy that storms with huge waves often occur on lakes, especially the largest ones. It is estimated that over 600 ships have sunk in the waters of the Five over the past two centuries!

During World War II, American pilots used the Great Lakes to practice takeoffs and landings on aircraft carriers. 18,000 pilots were trained, and about 300 aircraft were sunk!

Quite mystical is an obscure phenomenon when on the lakes, in completely calm, calm weather, giant waves rise, with crushing force flying onto the shores. The Indians called this phenomenon "three sisters." Scientific explanations boil down to the fact that the bottom of the lakes sometimes experiences sharp fluctuations. It remains a mystery that, at the same time, the surrounding seismic stations do not record any tremors.

Entire books can be written about the Great American Lakes. They were the cradle for many Indian tribes, the first European settlements were formed around them. And now these natural pearls have become indispensable for the two great powers, the USA and Canada, successfully fitting into their economy and culture, being an adornment of the whole continent, and in fact, the property of the entire planet.

The largest system of freshwater lakes in the United States and Canada is represented by 5 closely interconnected huge reservoirs that occupy an area of ​​245 thousand km2 (water volume 23 thousand km3). The lakes are located in a stepped order from Lake Superior to Lakes Huron, Michigan, Erie, Ontario, descending to the Atlantic, and interconnected by a network of small rivers and straits.

See where the Great American Lakes are located on the world map:

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The most majestic, deepest, coldest and largest among the Great Lakes of North America is Lake Superior. With harsh, almost untouched shores, it impresses with its size - 85 thousand km2 and depth - up to 406 m. Lake Superior is famous for its steep temper, in stormy weather the height of its waves can reach 12 meters. The northern coast has a particularly inaccessible view, where steep slopes are covered with pine forests and lichens.

The second largest among the Great Lakes of the United States and Canada is Lake Huron. It differs from its counterparts in the unusual outlines of the coast. The northern part of Huron is rocky, with steep banks, separated from the main part by Manitoulin Island. There are many rocky islands, rocks and volcanoes in Georgian Bay. In the southern part of the bay, the shore is represented by sandy beaches. In some places you can see 300-meter limestone cliffs, the so-called "Blue Mountains". The lake covers an area of ​​59 thousand km2, the depth is 228 m.

Lake Michigan will connect with about. Huron is a wide strait, over which rises the longest bridge in the world (8 km). The outlines of the banks of the reservoir are rectilinear. The northern part is wild and uninhabited. The southern part of the coast is densely populated (Chicago). The area of ​​the third largest reservoir of the Great Lakes of North America is 58 thousand km, the depth is 281 m.

Lake Erie is surrounded by more scenic landscapes, revitalized by numerous national parks and reserves. The Point Pele Nature Reserve is one of the unique places on the continent, where vast marshes with a peculiar fauna have been preserved. The southeastern and northern shores are gently sloping and sandy. The south coast is densely populated, there are large industrial cities of the USA: Cleveland, Toledo, Buffalo. The northern Canadian coast is less populated. The deep Niagara River flows out of Lake Erie, on which the 48-meter Niagara Falls is formed. The area of ​​Lake Michigan is 58 thousand km2, the maximum depth is 281 m.

Lake Ontario is the smallest lake in the Great Lakes system. Its area is only 19 thousand km2, but it is quite deep (maximum depth is 244 m). The banks are low and gently sloping, sometimes covered with deciduous forest. Pointed rocks are often found in the southeast. Large cities are located on the northern Canadian coast: Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa. The region has many national parks in the United States and Canada. The St. Lawrence River flows out of the lake, through which there is a flow from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic.