The Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of five freshwater lakes located in North America. They are Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario, and are spread across the United States and Canada. These lakes hold a combined total of 84% of North America’s surface freshwater and are essential to the surrounding ecosystems, economies, and people.
Lake Superior: The Largest Great Lake
Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes and is located on the border between the United States and Canada. It is approximately 383 miles in length, 160 miles in width, and has a maximum depth of 1,333 feet. Lake Superior also has a total surface area of 31,700 square miles, making it the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area.
Lake Huron: The Second Largest Great Lake
Lake Huron is the second-largest of the Great Lakes and is located on the border between Canada and the United States. It is approximately 206 miles in length, 183 miles in width, and has a maximum depth of 750 feet. The total surface area of Lake Huron is 23,000 square miles, making it the third-largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area.
Lake Michigan: The Third Largest Great Lake
Lake Michigan is the third-largest of the Great Lakes and is located entirely within the United States. It is approximately 307 miles in length, 118 miles in width, and has a maximum depth of 925 feet. Lake Michigan’s total surface area is 22,400 square miles, making it the sixth-largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area.
Lake Erie: The Fourth Largest Great Lake
Lake Erie is the fourth-largest of the Great Lakes and is located on the border between Canada and the United States. It is approximately 241 miles in length, 57 miles in width, and has a maximum depth of 210 feet. The total surface area of Lake Erie is 9,900 square miles, making it the thirteenth largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area.
Lake Ontario: The Smallest Great Lake
Lake Ontario is the smallest of the Great Lakes and is located on the border between Canada and the United States. It is approximately 193 miles in length, 53 miles in width, and has a maximum depth of 802 feet. Lake Ontario’s total surface area is 7,340 square miles, making it the fourteenth largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area.
How Are the Great Lakes Measured?
The Great Lakes are measured by length, width, surface area, and depth. These measurements are used to compare the Great Lakes to other freshwater lakes around the world. The length and width of each lake are measured in miles, while the surface area is measured in square miles. The depth is measured in feet.
Average Depth of Each Great Lake
The average depth of each Great Lake varies. Lake Superior has an average depth of 483 feet, Lake Huron has an average depth of 195 feet, Lake Michigan has an average depth of 279 feet, Lake Erie has an average depth of 62 feet, and Lake Ontario has an average depth of 283 feet.
Maximum Depth of Each Great Lake
The maximum depth of each Great Lake also varies. Lake Superior has a maximum depth of 1,333 feet, Lake Huron has a maximum depth of 750 feet, Lake Michigan has a maximum depth of 925 feet, Lake Erie has a maximum depth of 210 feet, and Lake Ontario has a maximum depth of 802 feet.
Length of Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes, and it has a length of approximately 383 miles. It is also the deepest and the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area.
Length of Lake Huron and Michigan
Lake Huron and Lake Michigan are connected and are considered to be one lake called Lake Huron-Michigan. This lake has a length of approximately 307 miles, making it the third-largest of the Great Lakes.
Length of Lake Erie and Ontario
Lake Erie and Lake Ontario are also connected and are considered to be one lake called the Niagara River. This river has a length of approximately 36 miles and connects Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. While the Niagara River is not technically a Great Lake, it is an important part of the Great Lakes system.
