What do the Great Lakes provide?
Shared with Canada and spanning more than 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) from west to east, these vast inland freshwater seas provide water for consumption, transportation, power, recreation and a host of other uses. The Great Lakes are one of the world’s largest surface freshwater ecosystems.
What is so special about the Great Lakes?
The Great Lakes and their connecting rivers and channels make up the largest fresh surface water system in the world. Experts estimate that the Great Lakes hold more than 6 quadrillion gallons of water. That’s about 22 percent of the world’s fresh surface water supply and about 90 percent of the United States’ supply.
What are the benefits of the Great Lakes?
The Great Lakes also directly impact the lives of the roughly 35 million people who live in the cities, states, and Canadian provinces surrounding them, providing drinking water and recreation, commercial transportation, and both tangible and intangible quality of life benefits.
What are the negative impacts of the Great Lakes?
Threats to the Great Lakes’ ecosystems, include invasive species, climate change, pollution, and habitat destruction. Climate change affects water temperatures, weather patterns, and lake levels. Pollutants from residential, agricultural, and industrial areas reduce water quality.
How much are the Great Lakes worth?
OVERVIEW: THE GREAT LAKES ECONOMY The area is home to 107 million people, 51 million jobs, and a GDP of US$6 trillion – making the Great Lakes Economy a powerhouse on an international level. In particular, the region is well-known globally for its manufacturing prowess.
Is Great Lakes water drinkable?
The Great Lakes are an abundant source of fresh drinking water; with proper treatment, that water is safe to enjoy. At Efilters.net, our experts provide high-quality water filtration systems for your home or business.
How much money does the Great Lakes make?
An Economic Powerhouse The total economy for the U.S. Great Lakes region generated $3.1 trillion in gross domestic product while employing 25.8 million people and supporting $1.3 trillion in wages.
Which way do the Great Lakes drain?
The lakes drain roughly from west to east, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean through the St. Lawrence lowlands. Except for Lakes Michigan and Huron, which are hydrologically one lake, their altitudes drop with each lake, usually causing a progressively increasing rate of flow.