Which 5 Great Lakes is the largest?

Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes and ranks as the second largest lake in the world (by surface area).



Lake Superior is the largest of the five Great Lakes by a massive margin, both in terms of surface area and total water volume. It covers approximately 31,700 square miles (82,100 square kilometers), making it roughly the size of the state of South Carolina. To put its scale into perspective, Lake Superior contains as much water as all the other Great Lakes combined, plus an extra three Lake Eries. It is so large that it functions more like an inland sea, with its own weather patterns and waves that can reach over 20 feet during autumn storms. In 2026, it remains the coldest and deepest of the lakes, reaching a maximum depth of 1,333 feet. Because of its massive volume, it has a much longer retention time than the other lakes, meaning water that enters Lake Superior stays there for an average of 191 years before flowing into Lake Huron.

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According to the analysis, Lake Superior and Lake Huron were given “good” grades for ecosystems. Lake Michigan and Lake Ontario are considered “fair,” while Lake Erie's ecosystem is considered “poor.”

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Lake Huron, the second-largest of the Great Lakes, tops the list for its pristine turquoise waters, unparalleled shoreline sunrises, numerous lakeside parks, gorgeous beaches, and historic lighthouses. French explorers proclaimed it La Mer Douce, “the freshwater sea.” What's more, Lake Huron is home to 30,000 islands!

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“Lake Erie, the smallest and shallowest of the five lakes, is also the filthiest; if every sewage pipe were turned off today, it would take 10 years for nature to purify Erie.

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Lake Superior's beaches are open and safe for swimming over 90% of the time, and the water is extremely clear, with an average underwater visibility of 8.3 m (27 ft).

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1. Lake Superior is actually not a lake at all, but an inland sea. 2. All of the four other Great Lakes, plus three more the size of Lake Erie, would fit inside of Lake Superior.

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Lake Superior is the Cleanest and Clearest Great Lake Because of its somewhat isolated location and long cold winters, not much farming is done along Superior's shores. This means lower amounts of nutrients, sediments, and organic material are floating around the lake.

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The Great Lakes are fascinating and a dream come true for swimmers. Yes, we can all swim in the Great Lakes. It's even possible to swim in all five Great Lakes in less than 24 hours!

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The water in the Great Lakes is owned by the general public according to the Public Trust Doctrine. The Public Trust Doctrine is an international legal theory – it applies in both Canada and the United States, so it applies to the entirety of the Great Lakes.

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A recent report suggests the lake could disappear within five years. In fall 2022, the Great Salt Lake hit its lowest water level since record keeping began. The lake's elevation sank to nearly six meters below the long-term average.

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Lake Michigan in particular is the roughest of the Great Lakes, and poses a major risk to those thinking of taking a dip.

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Everything You Need to Know About the Lake Mead Drought Water levels have been steadily declining since 2000, leading to the current drought of the popular Lake Mead. In June of 2022, Lake Mead faced a unique situation. Many people were trying to access the lake beyond the usual holiday crowds.

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Lake Erie drains into Lake Ontario via the Niagara River. The entire system flows to the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence River. As it flows from its westernmost point in Duluth, Minnesota to the Atlantic Ocean, the waterway drops in elevation approximately 600 feet.

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Drinking Water - State of the Great Lakes. The 2012 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement states that “the Waters of the Great Lakes should be a source of safe, high quality drinking water”. Approximately 8.5 million Canadians and 19.5 million Americans get their drinking water from the surface waters of the Great Lakes.

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Lake Superior freezes at least in part every year and less frequently in its entirety. The last year that it froze completely was in February 1994. It almost froze completely in March 2003 and this photograph was taken by the GOES satellite on March 7, 2003.

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During the 1960s, Lake Erie was declared a “dead lake” due to eutrophication and pollution. The children's book, The Lorax, written by Dr. Seuss, actually included the following line referring to fish: “They will walk on their fins and get woefully weary in search of some water that isn't so smeary.

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The major sources of phosphorus reductions were phosphorus outputs at wastewater plant discharges; eliminating phosphorous from laundry detergent; and no-till farming practices. Because of the phosphorus reductions, our Lake became much more clear and clean.

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Scientists have been able to figure how much clearer by using satellite imagery. Gary Fahnenstiel is a research scientist at Michigan Technological University and the University of Michigan. He says that the main reason behind increasing water clarity in Lakes Michigan and Huron is the invasive quagga mussel.

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