Why are Great Lakes so Important?

The five Great Lakes, Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario hold the largest freshwater on earth. Interconnected by natural and artificial waterways its very formation is so large it can be seen from space. 

Since ancient times the Native Americans first inhabited the Great Lakes. The five great lakes played a very vital role in forming the early civilization, wherein 120 bands of native tribes occupied the surrounding of the great lakes throughout the course of history. Some of the notable tribes inhabited the Great Lakes include the Sioux, Ottawa, Potawatomi, Chippewa, Fox, Iroquois, and Huron. Their civilization was significant in its own way event the Great Lakes was named after them. Native Americans also had an important role when the European explorers arrived in the country in the early 1600s, which help flourish the fur trade economy. 

Home to Millions of People 

Located in North America, within the US and Canada boundary the Great Lakes watershed houses about 40 million people. In the US alone, four of the twelve largest cities are located around the shores of the Great Lakes, they represent around 10% of the U.S. population. As the lake provides faster travel within and about the Great Lakes, it constitutes inland water transportation system in the world. The lake also played an important role in the economic development of the two countries. 

The Great Lakes also serve as a great recreational place for people living in the US and Canada. The Great Lakes even has its own thriving boat industry solely for recreation, as there are a lot of newly constructed canals catering vacationers into the region. Even secluded lake wilderness areas attracted people seeking out natural health benefits from mineral waters. 

The Lakes Supply most of the Natural Resources 

Covering about 94,000 miles and holding 5,500 cubic miles of freshwater, the Great Lakes provide drinking water to millions of people living in America and Canada. They contain about 18% of the world’s total fresh water. But people don’t just rely on the Great Lakes for their drinking water, as the lakes also have a diverse ecosystem and produce food for its inhabitants. A staggering 37% of the total land area of the lakes is devoted to agriculture and supplies tons of food sold in local supermarkets throughout the US and Canada. 

The Lake Weather is Perfect for Making Wines 

The Great Lakes is so huge that it even has its own Microclimate, and this is ideal for making wines. Apparent to this lake weather, hundreds of wineries scattered within the boundaries of the Great Five Lakes. As land and water have different characteristics, this fact is known to the ‘lake people’. Water takes longer to cool down and warm up; winemakers take advantage of this lake weather in creating the world’s best wines. As a result, this particular wine making draws international attention. Every year wine tours attract millions of people, even creating a particular wine tasting tourist industry.