The Great Lakes By: Geoffrey Lasin

1. It all started 15,000 years ago during the last glacial period. These five interconnected lakes formed around North America, from the Atlantic Ocean to the St. Lawrence River. These lakes are named Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. These lakes form the largest groups of freshwater lakes on Earth. They contain 20% of the world’s surface freshwater.
2. These lakes are the homes of many aquatic species. Many of the invasive species have been introduced through trade, but some of them threaten the region’s biodiversity. The Great Lakes cover a total surface area of 95,000 square miles and hold about 5,500 cubic miles of water (approximately 20 percent of all the world's fresh water and more than 80 percent of the freshwater of North America). There are more than 10,000 miles of shoreline that frame the Great Lakes and from west to east, the lakes span more than 750 miles. When the glaciers receded at the end of the last glacial period about 15,000 years ago, the Great Lakes filled with water left behind by the melting ice.
3. The Great Lakes has a very interesting history and when studying it, the topic itself has a lot to offer and can go a very, very long way in the future.