​The Great Lakes of North America are the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world. With a surface of over 94,000 square miles, they form an elongated inland sea with waves, winds, currents, depths and distant shores. 

The earliest evidence of human occupation in the region is estimated at 10,000 year ago, at the end of the last ice age. 

• Imperial
• Metric

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Great Lakes
​By the Numbers

Highest Elevation	601 ft (Lake Superior)
Lowest Elevation	243 ft (Lake Ontario)
Surface Area	94,250 mi²
Drainage Area	201,460 mi²
Volume of Water	5,439 mi³
Avg Depth	260 ft
Max Depth	1,332 ft
Length (N-S)	497 mi
Length (E-W)	750 mi
Length of Shoreline	10,210 mi*
Avg Surface Temp	48º F
Retention Time	320 years

*Total shoreline length is greater than the sum of the shoreline length for the lakes because it includes the connecting channels (but not the St. Lawrence River).

​Read more on the "Physical Features of the Great Lakes" from the EPA ​.

Great Lakes
By the Numbers

Highest Elevation	183 m (Lake Superior)
Lowest Elevation	74 m (Lake Ontario)
Surface Area	244,160 km²
Drainage Area	521,830 km²
Volume of Water	22,684 km³
Avg Depth	79 m
Max Depth	406 m
Length (N-S)	800 km
Length (E-W)	1,200 km
Length of Shoreline	17,017 km*
Avg Surface Temp	9º C
Retention Time	320 years

*Total shoreline length is greater than the sum of the shoreline length for the lakes because it includes the connecting channels (but not the St. Lawrence River).

​Read more on the "Physical Features of the Great Lakes" from the EPA ​.

What's so Great About the Great Lakes? - by Cheri Dobbs and Jennifer Gabrys. "The North American Great Lakes — Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior — are so big that they border 8 states and contain 23 quadrillion liters of water. They span forest, grassland, and wetland habitats, supporting a region that’s home to 3,500 species. But how did such a vast and unique geological feature come to be?"

Lake Superior

Lake Michigan

Lake Huron

Lake Erie

Lake Ontario

Explore by Theme

Explore by Theme

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Learn more!

Explore the Great Lakes by theme. 

Ice, Ice, Baby

You can book a Great Lakes Cruise for spring, summer or fall. Why not winter? The answer is ice.

Great Lakes, February 2018, NOAA satellite. 
Lake Superior is 77% covered with ice. Lake Michigan is 51% covered. Lake Huron 81% covered, with only 19% open water! Lake Erie is 91% covered. Lake Ontario is only 15% covered. Read more about 2018 ice coverage of the Great Lakes at MLive.com 

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Drive the Great Lakes Coast 

​Check out this video tour of the Great Lakes Shoreline by RV Lifestyle. In their Great Lakes Shoreline Tour, they'll follow the coastline starting in New York state and catch the local color and natural wonders of the Great Lakes.