Great Lakes

The Great Lakes are a group of five large lakes on or near the United States-Canadian border. They are the largest group of fresh water lakes on the earth and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence system is the largest fresh-water system in the world. They are sometimes referred to as inland seas.

Geologic pre-history

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Image:Great Lakes Lake Superior.png|Lake Superior

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Image:Great Lakes Lake Michigan.png|Lake Michigan

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Image:Great Lakes Lake Ontario.png|Lake Ontario

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Image:Great Lakes Lake Huron.png|Lake Huron

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Image:Great Lakes Lake Erie.png|Lake Erie

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The Great Lakes were formed at the end of the last ice age, about 10,000 years ago, when the Laurentide ice sheet receded. When this happened, large glaciers left behind a large amount of meltwater (see Lake Agassiz) which filled up these holes, thus creating the Great Lakes as we know them today. Because of the uneven nature of glacier erosion, some higher hills became Great Lakes islands. The Niagara Escarpment follows the contour of the Great Lakes between New York and Wisconsin -- Herbert Simon called this escarpment the spinal cord of my native land.

Related Topics:
Ice age - Laurentide ice sheet - Lake Agassiz - Erosion - Great Lakes islands - Niagara Escarpment - Herbert Simon

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