Did you know that the Great Lakes in North America have the largest interconnected freshwater system with more than 21% of the total freshwater in the world?Do you wish to know more about the Great Lakes? With an estimated age of about 7000-32000 years, the Great Lakes are a large series of interconnected fresh water bodies situated in the upper middle east stretch of North America.There are five Great Lakes, as per the Great Lakes map. According to the volume of Great Lakes, Lake Superior is the world’s largest freshwater lake among the Great Lakes with a volume of 2902.94 cu mi (12,100 cu km). The second largest is Lake Michigan with a volume of 1179.89 cu mi (4,918 cu km). Lake Huron 850.01 cu mi (3,543cu km) is the third-largest great lake. Lake Ontario 393.45 cu mi (1,640 cu km) is the fourth largest or the second smallest of the Great Lakes.According to the surface area, the order of Great Lakes: Lake Superior with a surface area of 31700.14 sq mi (82,103 sq km), Lake Huron 23,011.69 sq mi (59,600 sq km), Lake Michigan 22,405.51 sq mi (58,030 sq km), Lake Erie 9,939.81 sq mi (25,744 sq km), and Lake Ontario 7,320.5 sq mi (18,960 sq km). The Great Lakes or the Great Lakes region of North America meet the Atlantic Ocean through the Saint Lawrence River. In general, they lie on or near the border of Canada and the United States along the Lawrence river, Detroit river, and St. Clair river.Lake Superior, which is the largest freshwater lake, is also the second-largest lake in the world, whereas, Lake Michigan is the largest lake that is entirely a part of one country: the USA. The Great Lakes basin was formed as a result of massive glacier movements in the middle of the continent, North America. Around 14,000 years ago, when the ice sheets receded, the glacially formed basin started filling with water. Lake Erie has formed about 10,000 years ago, Lake Ontario has formed 7,000 years ago, whereas Lake Huron, Michigan, and Superior reached their present level about 3,000 years ago.After reading about the largest lakes, also check facts about Lake Erie Canada and the history of the Mississippi River.Second Largest Of The Great Lakes of North AmericaWith a volume of about 1179.89 cu mi (4,918 cu km), Lake Michigan is the second largest of the Great Lakes of North America. This lake lies in Michigan and Green Bay is an arm of Lake Michigan.Lake Michigan is found to be the second-largest of the five lakes on the basis of volume and the third-largest on the basis of surface area. Its basin is joined with that of Lake Huron to the east via the narrow Straits of Mackinac, technically and hydrologically, the two lakes are part of a single lake. By area, Lake Michigan is the largest lake which is in a single country. The Milwaukee Reef runs under Lake Michigan which divides the lake into the northern basin and the southern basin.Lake Michigan and Lake Huron connect at the Straits of Mackinac, hence, these are just four lakes hydrologically. Transport among the water surface of the lakes is enabled by the Great Lakes Waterway.Accounting for 21% of the entire surface fresh water in the world, Great Lakes is the biggest systematic source of fresh water on the Earth. The characteristics of these lakes like waves, winds, and water currents are more like seas and hence they are called inland seas.The Second Largest Of The Great Lakes By Surface AreaAccording to the surface area, Lake Huron is the second largest of the Great Lakes with an area of about 23,011.69 sq mi (59,600 sq km).Lake Huron, with its longest shoreline among all the Great Lakes, has around 30,000 islands. As per the volume, Lake Huron is the third largest of the Great Lakes. Sometimes, lake Michigan and Huron are together called Lake Michigan-Huron. Hydrologically, lake Huron forms the eastern part of Lake Michigan–Huron with the same surface elevation as its counterpart in the West to which it is conjoined by the Straits of Mackinac. Lake Huron and Michigan are often described as two lobes of the same sea.Lake Erie, the shallowest and the fourth largest of the Great Lakes by surface area, is the 11th largest lake in the world. Situated in the southernmost region of the Great Lakes, it has the least volume of freshwater. Lake Erie is just 210 ft (64 m) deep, at its deepest point. Just like all the other Great Lakes of North America, Lake Erie also produces lake-effect snow on the passage of cold winds over the warm waters of the lake in early winters.Lake Ontario is surrounded by Ontario on the north, west, and southwest and this province was named after Lake Ontario. It is surrounded by the famous state of the United States of America, New York in the south and east. The cities of Canada: Kingston, Hamilton, and Toronto are located on the lake’s shorelines. Also, Rochester, the American city, lines the shores of Lake Ontario. It lies at the base of Niagara Falls.Which is the largest great lake by volume?With a volume of 2902.94 cu mi (12,100 cu km), Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes by volume as well as by area, 31,700.14 sq mi (82,103 sq km).Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake, as well as the northernmost of the five lakes. Lake Superior can accommodate the rest of the Great Lakes in itself and carries 10% of the world’s freshwater. Isle Royale in Michigan is the largest island situated on this lake. This island consists of several lakes, which in turn, consist of other small islands.Whenever we consider the order of water bodies as per their size or volume, a curious question strikes our minds: how do people measure the surface area or volume of such huge water masses? Well, just so you know, the measures are definitely not taken by a man who dives into the sea with a long measuring tape. Instead, the measurement is done by various technological methods like SONAR (Sound Navigation and Ranging) in which a sound wave is generated towards the water body, its depth is determined by the time it takes to reflect and return to the target body.Another way of measuring the length of a water surface is by measuring its shoreline distance using a planimeter that notes the shoreline contour of two-dimensional planes.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for which is the second largest of the great lakes? Then why not take a look at are there alligators in the Mississippi river, or ancient Egypt Nile river facts.
Did you know that the Great Lakes in North America have the largest interconnected freshwater system with more than 21% of the total freshwater in the world?
