Conditions in the Great Lakes make it a lot easier for archaeologists to study shipwreck sites. When a volcano becomes inactive, it can often collapse or fall in on itself. After the weight of the ice was removed, the land (i.e., the outlet to the lakes) began to rise, closing off some outlets and allowing the water levels of the lakes to slowly rise. It is also one of the worlds largest bodies of fresh water. Together they hold almost 20 percent of the world's fresh surface water. From 1990 to 2018, satellite images reveal a rise of the number of glacial lakes by 53 percent. How do the Great Lakes influence the regional climate? Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article: The North American Great Lakes: Lake Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario as seen from satellite. Although glacial lakes are one way that lakes are formed, it isnt the only way! Eventually, drainage to the east and into the Atlantic Ocean was established, at one time down the valleys of the Mohawk and Hudson rivers and then along the course of the upper St. Lawrence River. Water and land have different relationships with heat. The Great Lakes are among the most dominant features of the northern United States. Exactly how much water are we talking about here? During that period of time, the global ice sheets had reached their maximum around 22,000 years ago. In order for glacial lakes to form, glaciers need to encroach upon the land and then eventually melt and recede. That allows shipwrecks to last longer than they would in the ocean. They played a central role in the European colonization and development of North America and for decades have attracted people and industry; Lakes Erie and Ontario and the southern portion of Lake Michigan are now ringed with large population concentrations. When the plates of the earth move, they can cause cracks or faults in the crust. And get this: Big old Manioulin has 108 lakes of its own some of which contain tiny islands. As the ice sheet retreated, low-lying, glacially depressed areas, such as the region to the east of Georgian Bay, were exposed. Uplift has continued at a rate of about 1 foot (30 centimetres) every 100 years; this is evidenced by the drowned river mouths of western Lakes Erie and Superior. The ancient rocks of the Canadian Shield cover part of the Superior and Huron basins, while Paleozoic sedimentary rocks make up the remainder of the basins. One nice byproduct of weather is the abundance of wineries around Lakes Michigan, Erie and Ontario. There's no place like H.O.M.E.S. He's been with WDIV since 2013. The Great Lakes were born when glaciers receded from this part of the world at the end of the last ice age. Another method that occurs happens around active tectonic regions. It is a source of pride for both countries that there are no fortifications or warships along the boundary. Together, these vast bodies of water enrich our world on countless fronts; here are five reasons why everybody should love them. A wide range of rock types and deposits are found in the Great Lakes because of their broad area and glacial origin. Taken by the Sea: 11 Real-life Shipwrecks, Why North America's Lakes Are Getting Distressingly More Salty, Planet Observer/Universal Images Group/Getty Images, Special Offer on Antivirus Software From HowStuffWorks and TotalAV Security. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Discover them all for FREE, Discover the Most Alligator Infested Lakes in, Alligator Infested Lakes: Why Lake Okeechobee is, deepest (and prettiest) lakes in the world, The 10 Most Alligator Infested Lakes in the United States, The Top 4 Most Alligator Infested Lakes In Texas, The 10 Largest Man-Made Lakes in the United States, The 10 Most Snake Infested Lakes in the United States, The 15 Deepest Lakes in the United States. The glaciers undoubtedly scoured these valleys, widening and deepening them and radically changing the drainage of the area. Although Lake Baikal in Russia has a larger volume of water, the combined area of the Great Lakessome 94,250 square miles (244,106 square kilometres)represents the largest surface of fresh water in the world, covering an area exceeding that of the United Kingdom. The largest postglacial lake, Nipissing, occupied the basins of Huron, Michigan, and Superior. As the period ended, however, we had extended into Eurasia and Australia. Simply put, the Great Lakes were created by glaciers. With an area of 1,067 square miles (2,765 square kilometers), it's the largest island in the world that resides in a freshwater lake. It's thought that when the mollusks latch on to boat hulls, they end up damaging wooden and metallic wrecks alike. Their visits are a boon for cities and towns in the Great Lakes area. Quantity is nice, but so is quality. The fastest growing lakes are in Scandinavia, Iceland, and Russia, but their volume is relatively small compared to other regions. Just about every type of boat or ship you can imagine from wooden canoes to mine-laying submarines has deployed on the Great Lakes at some point in time. The last ice age is known as the Last Glacial Period and lasted between 115,000 11,700years ago. The Great Lakes contain cold, fresh water. As a result, air around the coastline tends to be cooler than inland air every spring. Crater Lake in Oregon is an example of this formation and is currently one of the deepest (and prettiest) lakes in the world. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For a discussion of the system east of Lake Ontario, see Saint Lawrence River and Seaway. But not all the fish are locals. Millions of hawks, geese and other birds take biannual pit stops in the Great Lakes basin every year as part of their migration cycles. One reason why the Great Lakes are so important is they harbor 20 percent of all the liquid water on Earth's surface. How Were the Great Lakes Formed and How Long Ago. These lakes (often called reservoirs) are formed when humans dam up certain aspects of a river, backing the river up into a large pool behind it. How were the Great Lakes of North America formed? Adult sturgeon can be more than 7 feet (2.13 meters) long and weigh 240 pounds (108 kilograms). Take a look at this map breakdown showing the ice retreat and formation of the Great Lakes over thousands of years. The influx generates $40 million annually for the Buckeye State's economy. The glaciers undoubtedly scoured existing valleys, widening and deepening them and radically changing the drainage of the area. However, that being said, there's still one big threat to the sunken vehicles: Invasive zebra mussels. The Great Lakes modify the climate of the surrounding region by absorbing a large quantity of heat in the warmer months, which is then lost to the atmosphere during the colder months. They are one of the great natural features of the continent and of the Earth. In the Northern Hemisphere, glacial lakes are the most common since thats where the large ice sheets were present. Finally, there's coral, which thrives in warm waters and can encrust itself all over submerged vessels. Studies in the Lake Superior region indicate that a river system and valleys formed by water erosion existed before the Ice Age. Try birdwatching. US Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District. Also, the ocean's home to shipworms that feast on wooden wrecks. It is 350 miles (563 km) long (east to west), and at its greatest width it is 160 miles (258 km) from north to south. Except for Lake Michigan, the lakes provide a natural border between Canada and the United States, a frontier that was stabilized by a boundary-waters treaty of 1909. Either way, some of these newcomers are killing or out-competing the native species which is a huge problem. Altogether, the surface area of these lakes measures 94,250 square miles, roughly the size of the state of Oregon (96,003 square miles). Where does water in the Great Lakes originate? Drainage through the Ottawa River valley ceased, and outflow from the upper lakes was established by way of the St. Clair and Detroit rivers into Lake Erie. The most common times for this to happen are during the ice ages. About 10,000 years ago, the upper lakes evidently discharged through this area via the Ottawa River valley, and their levels were substantially reduced. These lakes are created for hydroelectric power, water conservation, and more. It's a badly-needed resource. Accordingly, the region has a huge fruit-growing industry. Glacial clays and organic sediments occur in the deep areas. After the glacial maximum, the ice sheets started their slow retreat. Individually, the lakes rank among the 14 largest in the world (see table). Ken Haddad is the digital content and audience manager for WDIV / ClickOnDetroit.com. Omissions? While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. When they had pulled back far enough to expose the land they had deeply carved, they began to melt, thereby filling the now lakes. Often, these lakes are quite large since glaciers themselves are large themselves. Some then fly as far north as the Arctic Circle or as far south as Argentina. That's part of the reason why Ontario produces more wine than any other Canadian province. Mark Mancini Water began filling the glacially scoured basins as soon as the ice receded, some 14,000 years ago. Minnesota, for example, is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, and most of them are glacial. 1 March 2018. Concern over the fate of the lakes reached a high pitch in the late 20th century, with both the U.S. and the Canadian governments and individuals investigating methods for reversing the consequences of years of misuse of the lakes waters. Some of the most famous lakes that have been formed through tectonic activity are the Caspian Sea and Lake Baikal. This system extends generally eastward from the St. Louis River in Minnesota (which flows into Lake Superior), through the lakes and the St. Lawrence River, and empties into the Atlantic Ocean at the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The Great Lakes receive their water supply from precipitation, which increases from west to east and from north to south. Within moments a body of water is formed, creating a U-shaped lake known as an oxbow lake. On Lake Huron, there's a Canadian landmass called Manitoulin Island. Not into fishing? When a river flows through a flat piece of land, it often widens and begins to wind. Copyright 2022 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Of these indigenous fish, none can match the lake sturgeon in size. Even though water exists in three states, there is only one correct answer to the questions in this quiz. So it's not surprising that the lakes contain an estimated 8,000 shipwrecks, with new ones being discovered on a regular basis. These massive bodies of water are closely connected and form one of the largest groups of freshwater lakes in the entire world. As it melted, water filled the huge holes carved by the glacier. During the early stages of the ice age, homo sapiens were primarily relegated to the warm regions of the earth. Marquette Harbor Lighthouse on Lake Superior, Marquette, Michigan. The Caspian Sea is the largest lake in the world, despite it being filled with salt water. Lake Chicago, in what is now the southern Lake Michigan basin, and Lake Maumee, in present-day western Lake Erie and its adjacent lowlands, originally drained southward into the Mississippi River through the Illinois and Wabash drainages, respectively. The wetlands, forests and islands here are terrific places for the flyers to rest and feed before moving on. This pattern is known as meandering, and can go on for miles. Updates? Thinking about the creation of these giants is mind-boggling, but it had to happen at some point! The Great Lakes form the western portion of the larger St. Lawrence hydrographic system. The present configuration of the Great Lakes basin is the result of the movement of massive glaciers through the mid-continent, a process that began about one million years ago during the Pleistocene Epoch. Another common form of lake is a manmade lake. This causes cooler summers and warmer winters than would otherwise occur in the region. What's the deal with those giant puddles that surround the Mitten? Corrections? Incredibly, humans were around during the times that the Great Lakes were formed. (And you complain about the commute on I-696!). You may know them as the Great Lakes. It is generally accepted that Lake Erie reached its present level about 10,000 years ago, Lake Ontario about 7,000 years ago, and Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior some 3,000 years ago. The Great Lakes are a chain of deep freshwater lakes in east-central North America comprising the lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. While we take the fresh water part of the lakes for granted, we also take their origins for granted. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. (Although technically, Huron and Michigan are the same lake.) "5 Reasons Why the Great Lakes Are So Great" The fingerprints of koalas are almost indistinguishable from human fingerprints. You'd think this would hurt farmers who live by the shoreline, but it can actually help them. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Paleontologists think that the Great Lakes' native fish species migrated into the area from drainages like the Hudson Bay and the Upper Mississippi River. The weight of the ice sheet exerted enormous pressures on the Earths crust. All the more reason to keep them pollution-free. At one high-water stage, the waters of the Huron and Michigan basin formed one large lakeLake Algonquin. Today, we are going to explore: How Were the Great Lakes Formed and How Long Ago? The situation has historians scrambling to document important ships before too much harm befalls them. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Some of the largest lakes in the US are created using this method, including Lake Mead, Lake Powell, and Lake Oahe. Fruits that don't tend to fare well up north can thrive by the Great Lakes. As the ice retreat continued, Lake Maumee was drained into Lake Chicago through a valley that now contains the Grand River in Michigan. Their drainage basin of about 295,710 square miles (which includes the areas of the lakes themselves and their connecting waterways) extends approximately 690 miles from north to south and about 860 miles from Lake Superior in the west to Lake Ontario in the east. This process took about 7,000 years! Knowing how big they are, the next step for many is to wonder how they were made! Dive in and test your knowledge of waterand see whether you sink or swim. And 1000+ more incredible animals. Lake Baikal is the largest freshwater lake in the world by volume. Put together, the five Great Lakes have 6 quadrillion gallons of it. He enjoys suffering through Lions games on Sundays in the fall. A comprehensive look at local, statewide and national news events is provided by the Local 4 News Team along with updates on sports, weather and traffic. There are limestone outcrops and large deposits of sand and gravel, usually near shore. Adding them up, the Great Lakes contain about 21% of the entire earths surface freshwater. The chillier temperatures cause fruit trees to blossom later in the season. There are also strict anti-looting laws which help prevent the artifacts on these ships from being stolen. The Great Lakes are a series of connected freshwater lakes that are so large they dominate the landscape and weather patterns of a large part of the United States and Canada. When a beaver creates a dam in a small river system, it can create large areas of stagnant water. The end of the Last Glacial Period was around 11,550 years ago, and the Holocene, our current epoch, began. The lakes have not benefited from this development, however, and have been seriously affected by pollution. The present configuration of the Great Lakes basin is the result of the movement of massive glaciers through North America, a process that began about one million years ago during the Pleistocene Epoch. And this is to say nothing of the naval battles that broke out here during the War of 1812. Thankfully, science has some answers for us. Estimates range from 7,000 to 32,000 years of age. Other exotic fish, such as the sea lampreys, just snuck in. If you don't get the reference, that's the acronym some people use to help them remember the names of North America's Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior. Glacial lakes exist all over the world and are continually growing or forming, even today. As the ice sheet melted and receded about 14,000 years ago, the first segments of the Great Lakes were created. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. In saltwater, iron-based metal corrodes more rapidly. These faults are then filled by rivers, oceans, or even rain. In Ohio alone, more than 68,000 birdwatching tourists drop by each spring to see the winged travelers arrive. The microclimate and loamy soil in those areas makes them well suited for viticulture. Please select which sections you would like to print: What lakes comprise the Great Lakes of North America? Fish that walk! So in summary, a visitor could theoretically stand on a little island in a little lake that's on a big island in a big lake. At the same time, Lake Duluth, in the western Lake Superior basin, also drained to the Mississippi. Together, the Great Lakes form the largest group of freshwater lakes by surface area and are the second largest by volume. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. Lakes formed through this process are known as glacial lakes. Great Lakes, chain of deep freshwater lakes in east-central North America comprising Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. Although humans make lakes, beavers are also excellent terraformers. The Great Lakes were formed when massive sheets of ice (glaciers) began receding. Each of the lakes is on or near the US-Canada border and is essential to the ecology and economy of the region. When a particularly wet season floods the river, it can burst through its banks, causing the loops of the meander can connect. In a period of warmth, they will then recede, allowing the troughs to be filled with meltwater. Five lakes make up the Great Lakes, including Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. The resulting depression can be filled with rain or snow, creating large, isolated lakes at high elevations. And most of the globe's freshwater supply is either frozen in glaciers or buried underground. https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Lakes, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Great Lakes, National Wildlife Federation - Great Lakes, North America, LiveScience - Great Facts About the Five Great Lakes, Great Lakes - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Great Lakes - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). The last glaciation in North America is called the Wisconsin Glacial Stage because it left many fresh landforms and sediments in that state. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. As the icy bulldozers went northward, they carved out deep troughs in the earth that later filled with water. Technically the Great Lakes hold one-fifth of the world's fresh surface water. The average annual rainfall in the Lake Superior basin is 30 inches (760 millimeters), 31 inches in Lakes Huron and Michigan, and 34 and 36 inches in Lakes Erie and Ontario, respectively. For metric system fans, that's 22.7 quadrillion liters. Other well-known species include the muskellunge, rock bass and northern pike. The age of the Great Lakes is still not definitely determined. As a result, glaciers are able to slide forward, grinding and eroding land as they go. That's a lot of water, especially when, one in five people around the world don't have reliable access to safe drinking water. The Great Lakes were formed near the end of the last ice age, roughly 14,000 years ago. When springtime comes, the lake's temperature will rise more slowly than the land that surrounds it. As a result, apples, peaches and other fruits are less likely to get killed by sudden frosts. About 14,000 years ago, things began to warm and the Laurentide glacier started to melt. Many of these vessels are almost perfectly preserved. Some 97 percent of all the water on our planet is saltwater. By comparison, water takes longer to warm up and cool down. About 18,000 years ago, the Laurentide glacier covered most of Canada and the Northern U.S. As the glacier moved, it flattened mountains and carved valleys. Neat! Lake Superior is the largest of the five Great Lakes of North America. We take pride in our Great Lakes, but do you know how they originally formed? On the shores of a large lake, this fact is readily apparent. As the climate across the earth warms (whether from human-caused climate change or natural swings in temperature), glaciers continue to melt and fill the scarred terrain they leave behind even more. Several game species like Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout were deliberately introduced. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Spiders that fly! Lets get started! With this amount of H2O, an aspiring supervillain could cover the contiguous United States in 10 feet (3 meters) of standing water. Hint: Its ice cold. This is from the US Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District: Copyright 2020 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Ice ages (otherwise known as Glacial Periods) are distinct periods of time where carbon in the air is minimal and the average temperature of the earth drops. In fact, the ice age allowed humans to cross the exposed land bridge that extended from modern-day Russia to Alaska. It's estimated that the glacier was nearly 2.5 miles thick.
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