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The Great Lakes | Wetlands

The Great Lakes—"Sweet Water Seas"

The Great Lakes are appropriately named, because together they form the largest body of fresh water in the world. They have a total surface area of more than 94,000 square miles—enough to completely cover Utah and still have enough left over for Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island! The two peninsulas which form the state of Michigan are nearly surrounded by these “sweet water seas.” The lakes have tremendous impact on the state’s climate and the wildlife species found here.

During winter, these huge lakes become very cold. Air moving across the lakes in April and May is cooled by the chilly water before it reaches land, delaying the onset of spring in the land near shore. By the end of summer the opposite is true—the warm lakes slow the progress of autumn in lakeshore areas. These lake effects give Michigan a slightly different climate than neighboring states.

Centuries of constant wave action on the shores have formed spectacular sand dunes on the western side of the Lower Peninsula and along the windward shores of the Upper Peninsula. These dunes support several plant and wildlife species found only in the Great Lakes area.

European explorers used the lakes’ easy access to the interior of North America. Exploration of the lakes and connecting rivers began in the mid-1600s as a potential route to the Pacific Ocean. Over the years, ease of commercial transportation transformed the Great Lakes region into a major industrial area. Many shipping ports here were among the busiest in the world.

Michigan’s geology provides numerous recreational opportunities. The variety of ecosystems and abundance of water has made this state a destination spot for campers, hikers, anglers, hunters, wildlife watchers, and photographers throughout the world. Michigan truly is, as the motto proclaims, the Great Lakes State.

Find out more about the Great Lakes at http://www.great-lakes.net/