Great lakes of america. Great Lakes Great American Lakes on the map

The greatest system of freshwater lakes in the USA and Canada is represented by 5 closely interconnected huge bodies of water, which occupy an area of ​​245 thousand km2 (water volume is 23 thousand km3). The lakes are arranged in a staggered order from Upper Lake to Lakes Huron, Michigan, Erie, Ontario, descending to the Atlantic, and connected 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 of the Great Lakes North America Lake Superior is considered. With harsh, almost untouched by man, it amazes with its size - 85 thousand km2 and depth - up to 406 m. Lake Superior is famous for its steep disposition; 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 of 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 islets, cliffs and volcanoes in the Georgian Bay. In the southern part of the bay, the coast is presented sandy beaches... In some places, you can see the 300 - meter high 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 shores 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 picturesque landscapes lively by numerous national parks and reserves. Point Pele Nature Reserve is one of the unique places on the continent, where vast swamps with a peculiar fauna have been preserved. The southeastern and northern shores are gentle and sandy. South coast densely populated, there are large industrial cities of the United States: Cleveland, Toledo, Buffalo. The northern Canadian coast is less populated. From Lake Erie flows the full-flowing Niagara River, on which a 48-meter Niagara Falls... Lake Michigan area is 58 thousand km2, maximum depth 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 shores are low and gentle, in places covered with deciduous forest. In the southeast, peaked cliffs are often found. Large cities are located on the northern Canadian coast: Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa. There are many US and Canadian national parks in the region. From the lake flows the St. Lawrence River, through which flows from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic.

In our opinion, the lake is small in size, beautiful, beautiful place for recreation, swimming, fishing. For those who are accustomed to ordinary small bodies of water, it is difficult to imagine that it can be so huge that the horizon is not visible! The great lakes of the world are admirable! What are they and where are they?

Tenth place

In tenth place is huge lake called Nyasa. It is located simultaneously in several Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. It occupies a large area - 31.1 thousand square kilometers. Its maximum depth is 706 meters! In this place, in the northern part of Nyasa, the bottom is much lower than sea level. Beautiful nature, steep rocky shores and pure water admirable. Part of the lake is located in a rocky wide depression. The lake is rich in fish (240 species), crocodiles, hippos, and also waterfowl have found shelter here. Scientists call Nyasa the birthplace of colorful aquarium fish. But the lake is not so calm: severe storms and surges often make navigation difficult.

Ninth place

The great lakes of Canada have long been famous for their beauty! The Big is the largest in this country and the fourth largest in all of North America. It is located at 185 meters above sea level. There are practically no settlements here. The only place where people live is the southwestern part of the lake called Deline.

Eighth place

Baikal is a lake known for its beauty. It is not only the largest in the Great Lakes of the World category, but also the deepest! This little sea is located in the south Eastern Siberia... It is the largest reservoir. Unique flora and fauna amazes everyone who has had the honor to visit here. In the cold season, the lake completely freezes up and only in the summer there is shipping here. Baikal resembles a crescent in shape. Its width ranges from 23 to 81 km.

Seventh place

The great lakes of the world are admirable. And in seventh place is Lake Olkhon. It occupies a huge area of ​​31,692 sq. km. For comparison, this is the approximate area of ​​countries such as Denmark, Belgium or the Netherlands. The lake is surrounded on all sides mountain ranges... The nature here is just magical!

Sixth place

In central Africa, there is a beautiful huge lake Tanganyika. It is not only one of the largest, but also one of the oldest. At the same time, the lake is located in countries such as Democratic republic Congo, Burundi, Tanzania and Zambia. Lake Tanganyika, about 649 km long and about 45-81 km wide, is located at an altitude of 774 meters above sea level in the zone of tectonic faults. Hippos, crocodiles and birds are found here. Navigation and fishing are well developed. The water temperature fluctuates depending on the climate and depth (25-30 degrees). Since there is no current, in the lower layers of the lake the temperature barely reaches 6 degrees!

Fifth place

The Great Lakes are a true miracle of nature. One of these wonders is the Aral Sea, which occupies the fifth position. Since the end of the twentieth century, the water level here has been constantly decreasing, but it is still considered one of the largest lakes in the world! Unfortunately, due to the experience here, the lake became abandoned. In addition, the wind brings here various pesticides and chemicals from the fields. Unfortunately, it is already impossible to save the Aral Sea ...

Is one of the most large lakes planets. It is located entirely in the United States and is connected to several rivers. Its area is about 57,753 km2, the length of Lake Michigan is 500 km, and the width is 191 km. Just imagine its size! On its shores are cities such as Chicago, Michigan, Evanston, Milwaukee, Gary, Green Bay and Hammond.

Third place

It is located in the USA and Canada and is renowned for its beauty, fauna and flora. Most often hydrologists combine Lakes Michigan and Huron together, but this controversial issue... Its area is 60 thousand square kilometers.

Second place

In second place is Lake Superior - the coldest, largest and deepest of all lakes in the world. The origin of the lake is glacial. There are rocky shores, incredibly beautiful flora and fauna - many fish and animals, a variety of plants.

In the first place in the category "Great Lakes of the World" - the Caspian Sea. Despite the fact that it is most often called the sea, in reality it is only a huge lake. Length coastline- 6,700 kilometers, and if we take into account the island - 7,000 km. The most big lake the world - the Caspian - a real sea in the middle of the continent!

general information

The Great Lakes formed at the end of the last ice age, about 10,000 years ago, when the glacier began to recede and melting water filled the ice-dug valley. As the glaciers receded, their edges left sharp "cuts" that are visible today in Wisconsin and the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, as well as at Niagara Falls.

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

The upper lake is the largest and deepest, in fact, its area exceeds the area Czech Republic... Lake Michigan is the second largest, while the smaller 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 elevation than other lakes.

From the lakes flows the St. Lawrence River, flowing into Quebec, past the Gaspe Peninsula, and flows into Atlantic Ocean... In the days before they were built railways, it was the St. Lawrence River that served as the main transport artery between 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 it 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 from the west, absorb the moisture of the lakes, and as soon as the cold air reaches over the spaces to the east, heavy snow falls, sometimes snowing several feet high. They say that at this time, snow can literally go from nowhere, from a completely cloudless sky.

There are several national parks on the shores of the Great Lakes. Here you can go yachting and kayaking, fishing or snorkeling, and in the forests surrounding the lake you can ride a bike, watch birds, walk in hiking and pitch tents. Bald eagles and herons can be found in the wilderness along the lake shores, while the more secluded forests are home to black baribal bears, wolves, elk and even the endangered Canadian lynx.

The basin of lakes is inhabited by more than 33 million people, which is 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, in an effort to protect this magnificent land from the damage caused by civilization.

The North American continent has a beautiful natural area known as the Great Lakes. The basin of these reservoirs is considered one of the largest drainage systems on our planet. It occupies a rather impressive area - 768 thousand km². It contains almost 18% of the world's total fresh water supply! Information about where the Great Lakes are located, their origin and description can be found in this article.

History of origin

Scientists believe that about 12 thousand years ago, there was an ice desert in the place of North America. The origin of the Great Lakes is associated with the formation of tectonic depressions, which were subsequently plowed out and deepened by a giant glacier that slowly moved from north to south. Huge masses of ice crushed the soil, which consisted mainly of soft sandstone and shale. They easily crushed mountains and moved huge boulders from their place, as a result of which even more deep depressions and moraines. Thus, wide pits were formed, which, after the melting of the glaciers, were gradually filled with water.

General information

This largest drainage system is located in North America, in the St. Lawrence River Basin, on the border of the United States and Canada. The Great Lakes are a group of five of the largest bodies of water, including the Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, and Ontario. The total length of their coastline is approximately 18 thousand km. They contain more than 22 thousand km³ of water, and their surface area is 245.3 thousand km². Lake Michigan is located in the United States. As for the rest of the reservoirs and the rivers connecting them, the border with Canada runs along them.

The Great Lakes system itself is special as it is located in the form of steps. The difference in the height of the placement of Upper, Huron, Michigan and Erie is not more than 9 m. But as for the lake. Ontario, then it, in comparison with the rest, is lower by almost 100 m. All of the above reservoirs are connected to each other by small, but rather full-flowing rivers. So, the Upper with Huron is communicated through the St. Mary's River 112 km long, and Ontario and Erie - through Niagara, which forms the world of the same name. famous waterfall, whose height is about 50 m. In addition, Huron is connected to Erie by 43-kilometer St. Clair, and to Lake Michigan - by the Mackinac Strait, which is at least 3 km wide.

The proximity of settlements

The Great Lakes (this is clearly visible on the map) are replenished by several hundred small rivulets, and the runoff is carried out along the St. Lawrence River, which flows from Ontario directly into the Atlantic Ocean. These waters have very low mineralization - only up to 0.13 g / l. There are about 170 different fish species in the system of these lakes, including salmon, perch, trout, carp, whitefish and many others.

I must say that the Great Lakes region in the southern and southeastern parts is adjacent to very densely populated and industrially developed, and from the west and north - to the agrarian and raw material territories of Canada and the United States. So, in the USA on the shores of Michigan there are two largest cities- Milwaukee and Chicago, near Erie - Cleveland and Buffalo, and near Ontario - Canadian Toronto. In addition, the lakes are connected with the Mississippi basin using a whole system of navigable canals.

Upper

The largest fresh water body in North America is Lake Superior. In terms of the amount of fresh water, this giant ranks third after the Russian Baikal and African Tanganyika. The average depth of the largest American lake is 147, and the maximum is 406 meters. It contains over 11 thousand km³ of water.

The northern shore of Lake Superior is located in Ontario (Canada). The rest of the coast is located in the United States. From the western part of it stretches the lands of Minnesota, from the south - Michigan, and from the southwest - Wisconsin. The total length of the coastline is 4387 km. The width of this freshwater giant reaches 260 km and its length is 560 km. This reservoir is located at an altitude of 182 m above sea level.

It is worth noting that the coastline of Lake Superior is quite indented by numerous bays and bays. The southern coast has flat terrain and sandy beaches. This picturesque place was chosen by the inhabitants of the North American continent, who seek to come here with their families on vacation. As for the northern coast, it consists entirely of rocks and cliffs.

All of the Great American Lakes are fed by a large number of medium and small rivers. For example, about two hundred flows into the Upper, and the largest is the river. Nipigon. In addition, the lake has its own islands. The largest of these is Isle Royal, which is 72 kilometers long and 14 kilometers wide. Now on the territory of this island is located national park connected to the mainland by constantly running back and forth ferries.

Huron

For some time now, some geographers have been trying to combine this lake with the third largest body of water - Michigan. Such attempts are explained by the fact that they are on the same level. These rather impressive bodies of water are very similar to two communicating vessels with similar characteristics. Huron is the second largest body of water in the Great Lakes. It covers an area of ​​nearly 6 thousand km². With regard to the volume of fresh water, it is inferior to Lake Michigan and amounts to 3.538 thousand km³. Huron is located 177 m above sea level.

The average depth of the lake does not exceed 60, and the maximum reaches 230 m. Its coastline is 6.157 thousand km, while the length is 332, and the width is 295 km. In the northern part of Huron there is big Island called Manitulin. It is considered the largest of all that are located in fresh water. Its area is 2,766 thousand km ². Besides, people live on it. The population of this island is approximately 13 thousand people.

The Great Lakes of North America have always been famous for their large number of rare fish species. Over time, they began to breed in other freshwater bodies around the world. Take lake trout, for example. It lives at a depth of 20 to 60 m. Unfortunately, in the mid-1950s, this type of fish was almost completely destroyed. And the point is not only in its overfishing, but also in the appearance in the waters of Huron of the sea lamprey, which came here as a result of the opening of a new canal in 1925.

This lake is extremely famous primarily for the fact that frequent storms and storms arose on it, after which numerous ship cemeteries were formed. Judge for yourself, since the beginning of the 18th century, more than one thousand ships have been swallowed by its waters! According to the documents, the first ship to sink was the Griffin. Its crash happened in September 1679. He walked with a great load of furs. But the most widely known event is the Great Storm, which struck the Great Lakes in 1913. It was a real hurricane that raged in the area for four days. It was Huron who suffered the most from this element. In its waters, the element found 36 ships, most of them washed ashore, but 10 ships sank along with their crews. 235 sailors fell victim to the Great Storm.

On Lake Huron there is a small Saginai Bay, located in the southwestern part of the reservoir. There are 185 sunken ships at the bottom. Another major ship graveyard is located near Manitoulin Island. 212 ships are buried there. Almost all of them were freight vehicles carrying furs, grain or other goods, so the damage from their crashes amounted to more than one million dollars.

Michigan

This lake is the third largest freshwater body of water and, unlike its counterparts, is located entirely in the United States. As mentioned above, all the Great Lakes of North America are located in steps. This reservoir is, like Huron, 177 m above sea level. Its average depth is 85, and the maximum is 281 m. Lake Michigan occupies about 58 thousand km². Its coastline is 2636 km long, 190 km wide and 494 km long. The largest island in Lake Michigan is Beaver. It is 21 km long and 10 km wide. It is part of the archipelago of the same name with many smaller islands.

Four states are adjacent to this reservoir: Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana. About 12 million people live along the entire coastline. The largest coastal cities are Milwaukee and Chicago. Lake Michigan summer period is very popular with holidaymakers. It is famous for its beaches with clean, soft and slightly squeaky sand underfoot. It owes this feature to the high content of quartz. In addition, the formation of sand dunes... As for the local water temperature, it remains warm even at the end of summer.

From the north, lake shores are often covered with whole colonies of coral stones. Often, their surface is covered with rather original and peculiar patterns, which distinguishes these natural formations from the well-known ordinary pebbles. Almost all of the eastern coast of Lake Michigan is covered with rocks, while the southern coast is covered with dunes. This feature can be explained by the prevalence of westerly winds in these places. It is they who, in winter, contribute to the formation of a rather impressive layer of ice on the surface of the lake.

Erie

It is the fourth largest body of water in the five Great Lakes. It covers an area of ​​25.7 thousand km². Erie stretches for 388 km, and its width is just over 90 km. This is the shallowest body of water, the average depth of which is only 64 m. This lake is located on the territory of three American states- Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania, as well as Ontario (Canada). Numerous islands are located in the southwestern part of it. There are several major cities such as Buffalo, Cleveland, Toledo and others.

As you know, the Great American Lakes, together and separately, are unique corners of nature. Eri was no exception. The climate here is really unusual. This is the so-called snow effect. It arises from the circulation of cold air masses in the winter months over warm lake water. When he reaches Buffalo, he literally pours a huge amount of snow onto the city. The snow effect is a short-term phenomenon that disappears when Erie freezes.

Ontario

Its area is 19.5 thousand km². It is the smallest of the Great Lakes. Its average depth is 86, and the maximum is 244 m. Despite its relatively small size, Ontario is the most important transport artery of both Canada and the United States. Due to its great depth, this lake never freezes completely, so ships run here all year round.

Since Ontario is located below all the Great Lakes, that is, only 75 m above sea level, a large number of locks have been equipped for convenient navigation, which are of limited width. This could lead to a significant reduction in the volume of freight traffic. To prevent this from happening, so-called lake trucks have been developed, which are the largest river ships in the world, reaching a length of up to three hundred meters.

Ontario, like all of the above Great Lakes, has a special climate. The local conditions contribute to successful development Agriculture, since the spring flowering of plants is delayed here, and ripe fruits such as peaches, plums, apples and cherries are preserved until late autumn. Also on this coast grapes grow well, from which a delicious and aromatic drink is made.

Abuse

The large-scale and reckless use of these unique reservoirs in the USA and Canada could not but lead to rather serious socio-economic and environmental issues, and above all to the pollution of not only surface, but also groundwater.

Particularly detrimental to the Great Lakes was the rapidly developing economy of the United States after World War II. It was during this period that the unprecedented growth of American industry began. Industrial, household and other wastewaters poured into these water bodies without any treatment. The result of such actions was a sharp decrease in the oxygen content, and as a result, the mass death of fish.

By that time, the use and further dumping of toxic chlorine-containing components and synthetic fertilizers led to their entry into food. By the late 1960s, about 40% of all water systems in the United States had become unusable for both fishing and bathing due to extreme pollution. Moreover, rather large volumes of toxic liquids fell into the Great Lakes. USA thus became the main reason ecological disaster in the area.

By the way, already in the 70s of the last century, Lake Erie turned out to be practically "dead" due to intensive discharges from the chemical industry. All this happened due to the fault of enterprises that did not pay due attention to high-quality wastewater treatment. As a result, the waters of Lake Erie were oversaturated with phosphorus, causing excessive algal blooms, and as a result, a significant decrease in the fish population.

Ecological situation

Once upon a time, many different animals lived on the shores of the largest freshwater lakes of the North American continent, and their waters were literally teeming with a variety of fish species. James Fenimore Cooper wrote about all this in great detail and fascinatingly in the not so distant past in his works "St. John's Wort" and "Pathfinder, or On the Shores of Ontario." Since then, herds of noble wild deer have disappeared, thickets of dense deciduous forests, and with them the Indian tribes. The American lakes themselves have turned into an ecologically unfavorable zone.

Despite the huge efforts made by the US and Canadian governments to protect natural resources Great Lakes, yet this does not bring any significant changes in better side... As long as various enterprises of the metallurgical, chemical and oil refining industries exist near this water system, they will inevitably destroy the ecosystem of these unique reservoirs.

The Great Lake is one of the most popular places for fishing throughout the Vladimir region. The reservoir is located not far from Vyazniki, and it will be convenient to get here both from Vladimir and from Nizhny Novgorod. Don't miss your chance and be sure to take a ride to the pond this weekend.

Peculiarities

The Great Lake is the second largest body of water in the region and at the same time acts as one of the most popular fishing destinations. This reservoir is home to fish such as tench, roach, sleeper and pike, and they are just perfect for catching here. The only negative is that for the fish spawning period, the regional authorities impose temporary fishing restrictions, and therefore, before going to the lake, you must definitely check the spawning schedule and fishing bans.

The reservoir will also be of interest to fans of eco-tourism and lovers of clean, gas-free corners of nature. Cranberries, lingonberries, bilberries and blueberries can be picked near wetlands. In the lakeside groves you can see birches, larch trees, pines and spruces, as well as hear the gentle singing of nightingales. Other birds on the reservoir are gray gulls, white heaps, great crested grebes and sea eagles.

Sadly, due to the lack of proper care, the Great Lake began to gradually overgrow. Here you can see more and more reed islands, clusters of black alder and cattail. But at the same time, beautiful white water lilies appear here, which are especially pleasant to admire in summer.

There are two islands on the reservoir - these are large island Birch and a very small island of Sosnovka. However, these islands will not be particularly interesting to visit, so it is not necessary to look at them at all.

How to get there

The Great Lake is located in the Vyaznikovsky district of the Vladimir region, not far from the regional center. From Vladimir to this reservoir you will need to drive about 130 kilometers, and from Nizhny Novgorod - 120 kilometers. To get here from Vladimir, we recommend using the railway and get to the Vyazniki station, and then change to regular bus and get to the village of Malye Udoly. If you are going to the lake by car, then go to it along the highway on Nizhny Novgorod and pass Bogolyubovo, Penkino, Pavlovskoe and Chudinovo. In Vyazniki, leave the main road, find the road that crosses the Klyazma, and follow it to Zaborochye, and then to Malye Udol. The reservoir you need is located 3 kilometers from the indicated settlement.

Coordinates 56 ° 16′47 ″ N (56.279684) 42 ° 18′17 ″ E (42.304754)

Object data:

Area 2.8 km²

Depth up to 2.05 m

Nature

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Harsh survivors