The Great Lakes

freshwater · North America · shipping

Five connected lakes. Lake Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario are all linked together, making them the largest freshwater lake system on Earth.

Superhighway for ships. The Great Lakes Waterway lets giant cargo ships travel between the lakes to carry grain, iron, and other goods around the world.

Border between nations. These lakes sit right on the boundary between Canada and the United States, so both countries share them.

Connection to oceans. The Saint Lawrence River carries water from the Great Lakes all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, while the Illinois Waterway connects them to the Mississippi River.