|
|
|
||||||||||||
){kind=small} www.maxpages.com/glakes The Great Lakes constitute the world's greatest reservoir of fresh water which amounts to one-fifth of the world's total surface supply (see Table 1 below). In addition, four of the five lakes account for over half of the 2,342-mile St. Lawrence Seaway's total length. Compare this with the distance from the mouth of the St. Lawrence to London of some 2,752 miles. Maritime navigation has been extended through the Great Lakes with a minimum controlling depth of 27-feet throughout its length. Three sets of locks permit ships to navigate from sea level to Lake Superior's elevation of 720' asl. The lock sets from east to west are the Montreal/Lake Ontario (seven locks/226'), the Welland Canal (eight locks/324') and Sault Ste. Marie (one lock/21'). The St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes were principal routes of access for waterborne explorers and early hunters. These water routes still serve as the most economical transport lines for bulk commercial goods and have great utility for ocean-going, pocket cruise ship visits. The continental cold winter climate of the Great Lakes results in landfast ice conditions that effectively close the locks from mid-January to early March. The drainage area of the Great Lakes is surprisingly small and that contributes to the variation in lake water levels of a few feet. The topography is generally low with more hills to the north of the lakes. Of course, glaciation affected the entire area and rock outcrops and deranged drainage is still very much in evidence. Dolomitic limestone, here a ridge maker, consitutes the great sweeping Niagara Escarpment which forms the falls on the Niagara River and extends to the north forming the Bruce Peninsula between Lake Huron and Giorgian Bay then reappearing on Manitoulin Island. Table 1. Lake Comparisons Caspian Sea 143,240 Lake Superior 31,700 Lake Huron 23,000 Lake Michigan 22,300 Lake Ontario Lake Erie Lake Baikal 12,160 (Note: Lake Baikal, with a depth of 5,315 feet, is the deepest lake on earth and contains an enormous amount of fresh water.) REFERENCES. Click on any of the selected items below for travel-related information: Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway Space Image. Great Lakes Introduction. Great Lakes Overview. Cruise the Great Lakes. Great Lakes Travel Information. Great Lakes Climate and Water Levels. Great Lakes Seaway and Shipping. St. Lawrence Seaway. Lake Superior. Lake Huron. Lake Michigan. Lake Erie. Lake Ontario. Great Lakes Circle Tour. Great Lakes General Information. GREAT LAKES GENERAL REFERENCES: Great Lakes Atlas. Great Lakes Terrain Map. Great Lakes Population Map. North America Map. North America Interactive Map. Cruise Map of Eastern North America. United States Map. Canada Map. Great Lakes Tourism Information. Great Lakes Information. Great Lakes Background Information. Current Canada Weather. Great Lakes Marine Forecasts. Great Lakes Regional Forecasts. Great Lakes Ports. TRAVEL AND CRUISE ARTICLES. GENERAL CRUISE INFORMATION. WORLD PORT DIRECTORY. WORLD CRUISE PORTS. TRAVEL COUNSELLORS FOR INFORMATION. Copyright 1999-2009. All Rights Reserved. ){kind=small} |
 Sign Guestbook |
 View Guestbook |
|
. |