Great Lakes . Set of lakes in North America that constitute the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world; They are also considered as closed seas and each one is located at a different altitude above sea level and they are linked together by various water courses and with the Atlantic Ocean through the San Lorenzo River Channel .
Summary
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- 1 Economic characteristics
- 2 Characteristics of each lake
- 1 Peculiarities
- 3 Influence of lakes on climate
- 4 Sources
Economic characteristics
The American Great Lakes region is a territory with a highly developed economy. On its shores are very rich cities and flourishing industries that transport their goods through these navigable lakes. River traffic is interrupted in winter by the freezing of the waters.
Characteristics of each lake
- The Superior is the greatest and deepest. It has a maximum length and width of 563 km and 257 km respectively. Its average depth is 149 m, reaching 406 m. It has a volume of 12,232 km³ and a coastline of 4,393 km, including the islands.
- Michigan is the only one in a single country (the United States) and second in volume. Its surface area is 57,750 km², which makes it the largest lake belonging to a single country and the fifth in the world. Its maximum depth is 281 m. Its volume is 4,918 km³.
- The Ferret is second on the surface. Including the bays of Georgia and Saginaw, it occupies an area of 59,570 km², of which 36,001 km² belong to Canada. The lake basin occupies about 134,000 km2. It has a maximum length and width of 332 and 295 km, respectively. Its maximum depth is 229 meters. Its surface is located 176 meters above sea level (msnm).
- The Erie is the lowest volume. It is located 173 meters above sea level. Its length is 388 km, its width 92 km, its surface area of 25,700 km², its average depth of 19 m and its volume of 488 km³. It has a maximum depth of 64 m, but its entire western area is less than 20 m, with an average of just 13 m.
- Ontario is the smallest in area with 18,960 km². It is located at the eastern end of the Great LakesHowever, it exceeds Erie in volume, since it has 1,639 km³. Due to its size, it is the 14th lake on a world scale and has a coastline of 1,146 km. It is located 74 meters above sea level. Its length is 311 km and its width 86 km. Its average depth is 86 m and the maximum is 244 m, the third largest in the system.
Peculiarities
The system also includes the Saint Marys River, between the Superior and the Huron, the Saint Clair between the Huron and the Saint Clair, the Detroit between the Saint Clair and the Erie, and the Niagara and its Falls, between the Erie and Ontario . The Ferret is usually divided into the homonymous lake and Georgian Bay.
The Lake Nipigon , a smaller lake which flows into the Superior through Nipigon River, is sometimes considered the sixth lake system.
The Saint Lawrence River, which in many parts of its course demarcates the same international boundary, is the collector of these interconnected lakes and flows through Quebec and through the Gaspé Peninsula to the Atlantic Ocean.
Scattered by the lakes are 35,000 islands, including Manitoulin Island in the Huron, the largest island within a portion of inland water (which is also home to the world’s largest lake within another lake: Lake Manitou, with an area of 104 km²).
A sixth lake, the smaller Saint Clair, is also part of the system. It is located between the Ferret and the Erie, but is not officially one of the Great Lakes.
The San Lorenzo Canal and the Great Lakes Waterway provide access for ocean vessels to the Great Lakes; limited trade, however, for larger ocean-going vessels that do not pass through the locks.
Influence of lakes on climate
Lakes affect climate, in what is known as the lake effect. In winter, evaporation from westerly winds can produce heavy snowfall. The most prominent example is the amount of snow that falls in Buffalo , New York , resulting from evaporation emitted by Lake Erie. It is not unusual for it to snow on days with clear skies due to this phenomenon.
Lakes also moderate seasonal temperatures, absorbing heat and cooling the air in summer, and gently releasing that heat in autumn. This attenuated temperature creates regions known as “fruit belts”, where traditionally produced fruits are grown further south. The East shore of Lake Michigan and the South shore of Lake Erie are home to many wineries. The Niagara Peninsula , between Erie and Ontario, has excellent wines. Also related to the lake effect, is the appearance of fog, especially in Lake Superior, due to its maritime climate.
Despite its colossal size, a large area of the Great Lakes freezes over in winter. This stops the flow of ships during this season. Some icebreakers are used in that season.