Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}45°N 84°W / 45°N 84°W / 45; -84. ", Explorer says Griffin shipwreck may be found, "L.R. The influx of parasitic lamprey populations after the development of the Erie Canal and the much later Welland Canal led to the two federal governments of the US and Canada working on joint proposals to control it. As a prototype it is subject to occasional, unexplained interruptions in service ... because we keep trying new things. The Great Lakes Waterway connects all the lakes; the smaller Saint Lawrence Seaway connects the lakes to the Atlantic oceans. [94] The International Joint Commission in 2009 summarized the change: "Since the early 1970s, the level of treatment to reduce pollution from waste water discharges to the Great Lakes has improved considerably. Report a problem or mistake on this page. They are lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario and are in general on or near the Canada–United States border. Moreover, between 1879 and 1899, reported whitefish harvests declined from some 24.3 million pounds (11 million kg) to just over 9 million pounds (4 million kg). These lakes are located in the upper mid-east area of North America – basically on Canada’s and … Census Office The main business of many of the passenger lines in the 19th century was transporting immigrants. The Great Lakes are the largest surface freshwater systems on Earth and contain roughly 21 percent of the world water supply. [12] There are also several thousand smaller lakes, often called "inland lakes", within the basin. The Great Lakes are used to supply drinking water to tens of millions of people in bordering areas. "Evolution of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement", Paul Muldoon and Lee Botts, Michigan State University Press, 2005, Burkhardt Steffen, Amoroso Gabi, Riebesell Ulf, Sültemeyer Dieter, (2001), CO. Brian N. Popp, Edward A. [90] "Not enough is being done to stop fertilizer and phosphorus from getting into the lake and causing blooms," said Michael McKay, executive director of the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER) at the University of Windsor. The names of the great lakes are Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, and Lake Erie. Armstrong, Leslie, ”Great Lakes Water Levels Rebound Thanks to Prolonged Winter,” Toronto Star, August 14, 2014. Commercial tug-and-barge traffic on these waterways is heavy.[39]. Not coincidentally, this status allows neighboring states to apply for additional federal research and education funds allocated to these national resources. Vessel Registry: CANADA; Official Number: 318774; Rig: Fire Tug; Date Built: 1963-00-00 [71] The last commercial fisherman left Milwaukee in 2011 because of overfishing and anthropogenic changes to the biosphere. Although the region was sparsely populated until the 1830s, so there was not much local demand and transporting fish was still prohibitively costly, there were economic and infrastructure developments that were promising for the future of the fishing industry going into the 1830s. The Great Lakes can have an effect on regional weather called lake-effect snow, which is sometimes very localized. The Great Lakes are estimated to have been formed at the end of the last glacial period (the Wisconsin glaciation ended 10,000 to 12,000 years ago), when the Laurentide Ice Sheet receded. [citation needed], Though contrary to federal laws in both countries, those treatment system upgrades have not yet eliminated Combined sewer Overflow events. "[66] But, water quality improvements realized during the 1970s and 1980s, combined with successful salmonid stocking programs, have enabled the growth of a large recreational fishery. [70], Since the 19th century an estimated 160 new species have found their way into the Great Lakes ecosystem; many have become invasive; the overseas ship ballast and ship hull parasitism are causing severe economic and ecological impacts. Despite their vast size, large sections of the Great Lakes freeze over in winter, interrupting most shipping from January to March. Reference Map of the Great Lakes. [14], Intensive human population growth began in the region in the 20th century and continues today. To learn more Great Lake place names, explore our map. A select list of the top 3 to 5 major lakes per region with links to more detailed region lists of lakes. Early European settlers were astounded by both the variety and quantity of fish; there were 150 different species in the Great Lakes. [1][2][3] The total surface is 94,250 square miles (244,106 km2), and the total volume (measured at the low water datum) is 5,439 cubic miles (22,671 km3),[4] slightly less than the volume of Lake Baikal (5,666 cu mi or 23,615 km3, 22–23% of the world's surface fresh water). National Geophysical Data Center, NOAA. Typhoid fever Michigan. [123] The Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve serves as an underwater museum to protect the many shipwrecks in this area. Lake Erie - 9,910 square miles Chi-Cheemaun[122] runs between Tobermory and South Baymouth, Manitoulin Island, operated by the Owen Sound Transportation Company. 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