What Are The Names Of The Great Lakes

The Great Lakes are a series of five interconnected freshwater lakes in North America, and they are the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth. The names of the Great Lakes are derived from various sources, including Native American tribes, French explorers, and early European settlers. Here are the names of the Great Lakes, listed in order from largest to smallest:

The Five Great Lakes

The five Great Lakes are: Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. Each lake has its own unique characteristics, and they are all connected by a system of straits and canals.

Lake Superior

Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes, covering an area of approximately 31,700 square miles (82,100 square kilometers). It is also the deepest of the Great Lakes, with a maximum depth of 1,332 feet (406 meters). The name “Superior” comes from the French word “le lac supérieur,” which means “the upper lake.” Lake Superior is located on the northernmost part of the Great Lakes system, and it is bordered by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan is the second-largest of the Great Lakes, covering an area of approximately 22,400 square miles (58,000 square kilometers). It is the only one of the Great Lakes that is located entirely within the United States. The name “Michigan” comes from the Ojibwe word “mishigamaa,” which means “great water.” Lake Michigan is bordered by the U.S. states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana.

Lake Huron

Lake Huron is the third-largest of the Great Lakes, covering an area of approximately 23,000 square miles (59,600 square kilometers). It is located on the eastern part of the Great Lakes system, and it is bordered by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Michigan. The name “Huron” comes from the Huron Native American tribe, which lived in the region. Lake Huron is connected to Lake Erie by the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair.

Lake Erie

Lake Erie is the smallest of the Great Lakes by volume, covering an area of approximately 9,900 square miles (25,600 square kilometers). However, it is the shallowest of the Great Lakes, with a maximum depth of 240 feet (73 meters). The name “Erie” comes from the Erie Native American tribe, which lived in the region. Lake Erie is bordered by the U.S. states of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, and the Canadian province of Ontario.

Lake Ontario

Lake Ontario is the lowest of the Great Lakes in elevation, and it is the most downstream lake in the system. It covers an area of approximately 9,300 square miles (24,100 square kilometers), and it is bordered by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. The name “Ontario” comes from the Huron Native American word “ontari:io,” which means “great lake.” Lake Ontario is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Saint Lawrence River.