The Great Lakes

The Great Lakes are a group of five big lakes in North America. They sit between the United States and Canada. Their names are Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. Together they hold a huge amount of the world's fresh water.

Five Big Lakes

Lake Superior is the biggest of the Great Lakes and the largest freshwater lake in the world by area. The lakes are so wide that you cannot see across them. Ships carry goods from lake to lake. Many big cities sit on their shores, like Chicago, Detroit, and Toronto.

Made by Ice

The Great Lakes were made by huge sheets of ice called glaciers. Long ago, glaciers moved across the land and dug out big holes. When the ice melted, the holes filled with water. The lakes are connected, and water flows from one to the next and then out to the Atlantic Ocean.

Fun Facts

• The Great Lakes hold about 20 percent of Earth's fresh surface water.
• Niagara Falls is part of the Great Lakes, between Erie and Ontario.
• Lake Superior is so big it could hold all the other Great Lakes plus three more Lake Eries.

Did You Know?

You can remember the names of the Great Lakes with the word HOMES: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.