Great Lakes Awareness Day is an annual event that acknowledges the importance of the Great Lakes ecosystem and the challenges it faces. The Great Lakes, which consist of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, are one of the largest freshwater systems in the world, providing drinking water, transportation, and recreational opportunities for millions of people. In honor of this important day, here are fun facts about the Great Lakes and ways to participate in preservation efforts!
fun facts
-
Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes and is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area.
-
The Great Lakes are so large that they contain about 84% of North America's surface fresh water and about 21% of the world's supply.
-
Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake that is entirely within U.S. territory.
-
Lake Michigan’s shore is home to the largest freshwater sand dunes in the world.
-
The Great Lakes are important shipping routes and are connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence Seaway.
-
There are more than 35,000 islands in the Great Lakes, many of which are home to wildlife and some of which are inhabited by humans.
-
The Great Lakes have been shaped by glaciers, which left behind unique rock formations and created many of the lakes' islands.
-
The Empire State Building would sink beneath the surface of Lake Superior.
-
Michigan has more freshwater coastline than any other US state.
-
The Great Lakes contain 6 quadrillion gallons of fresh water, which is enough to submerge the entire continental US in nearly 10 feet of water.
conservation
The Great Lakes Water Quality Act was signed in 1972 in an effort to help combat this wondrous ecosystem from pollution. There are multiple organizations that you can get involved in if you wish to help preservation efforts. The Great Lakes Conservation Coalition is promoting a letter writing campaign to support the Brandon Road Lock and Dam to stop Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan. Contact your rep here.
The Alliance for the Great Lakes is asking Congress to increase funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and clean water programs. This effort aims to address water pollutants, replace lead pipes, and repair inadequate drinking water and wastewater systems. You can email your officials here.
You can also get involved in Adopt-a-Beach cleanups through the Alliance for the Great Lakes. Each year, volunteers through this program are able to remove about 85% of plastic pollutants from local beaches. It’s also an invaluable way for scientists to collect data on the sources of plastic pollution. Learn more about Adopt-a-Beach here.
The National Wildlife Federation is fighting sulfide mining in the upper Great Lakes region and campaigning for the enforcement of the Great Lakes Water Resources Compact. Get involved with the NWF’s work here.
The Superior Watershed Partnership has many volunteer opportunities throughout the year which include dune restoration, removing invasive plants, collecting waste, restoring fish habitats, and monitoring projects. Find out how you can make a difference with SWP here.