From Arizona

- By Rashmi Menon

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• Labor Day
• The Community College
• Hiking the Grand Canyon - II
• Hiking the Grand Canyon - I
• The Niagara Falls
• Desert Dogs
• The Sears Tower
• The Navajo Code Talkers
• Driving Through McDonalds
• The Mighty Desert Warrior
• The Big Roundup
• Serving the Americans
• Martin Luther King Day
• Harvard University and Other Ivy League Schools
• Winter Wonders
• Las Vegas
• Let's Give Thanks!
• Fall Colours
• Halloween
• The Collared Peccary
• Hurricane Isabel
• Wonders of Yellowstone
• A Trip Under the Sea
• The Legend of the Kokopelli
• The Great Lakes of North America

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The Great Lakes of North America

Hello friends! It's time for the next adventure. So tie up those shoelaces, button up your jackets and set sail with me. I'm taking you on an exciting journey through the Great Lakes region of North America. This 95,000 square mile region is made up of five lakes, viz. Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Together these five lakes hold one fifth of the world's total freshwater supply. Americans use the water from the Great Lakes for consumption, transportation, business and recreation.
The Great Lakes are an important part of American history. All of you know how early European settlers landed on the shores of America after crossing the Atlantic Ocean. They then used the Lakes as inland "seas" in order to explore the continent. The early settlers used these waterways to carry on fur trade with the fashionable European countries. Fishing was another important activity in the early days.
Today the Great Lake region is densely populated and houses some of the largest industrial plants in the United States and Canada. The 11,000-mile coastline also offers fun-filled opportunities for tourists from around the world. Tourists can enjoy a variety of activities all year round. Some choose to bask in the glory of the exotic lakeshore beaches. Some prefer to sail the majestic waters. Others like to fish. Yet others choose to spend their vacations exploring the rich heritage of the quaint little towns or cities that border the Lakes. The world famous Niagara Falls is located in this region. The Lakes are accessible both by land and by air. World famous cities including Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis and Toronto act as gateways to this region.

Here are some facts about these breathtaking freshwater seas:
Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world. It is the deepest and coldest of all the Great Lakes. Its deepest point is 1,332 feet. It is bordered by the states of Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the province of Ontario in Canada.
Lake Huron gets its name from the French words meaning "rough and untidy." It borders the state of Michigan and the province of Ontario in Canada. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes. It is the connecting waterway to the other Great Lakes. The Georgian Bay, which is often nicknamed the "sixth Great Lake," is a part of this lake.
Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake that is completely within the United States. It is, therefore, the largest freshwater lake in USA. It is bordered by the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. The world's largest lakeshore sand dunes are located along the shores of Lake Michigan.
Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes. Its deepest point is only 210 feet. It flows through the city of Cleveland in Ohio and finally empties itself into the Niagara Falls River. It was once the most polluted Great Lake. However, intensive efforts by citizens and environmentalists have now made it the cleanest Great Lake.
Lake Ontario is the only lake that doesn't freeze in winter because of its low elevation above sea level. Its deepest point is 802 feet.
If you have any trouble remembering the names of the 5 Great Lakes, here is a neat trick. Simply memorize the saying, "Sisters Must Help Each Other." Note how the first letter of every word in the saying corresponds with the first letters of the names of the Lakes!!

Sisters = Superior
Must = Michigan
Help = Huron
Each = Erie
Other = Ontario

That's it for this week then. Muchas Gracias for joining me. I'll see you again in a couple of weeks. Hasta Pronto!

Notes:
Muchas Gracias = Spanish for "Thank you."
Hasta Pronto = Spanish for "See you soon."

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