The Dynamic Great LakesThe five Great Lakes, Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario with their connecting waters are the world's largest freshwater system; about 20 per cent of all the fresh surface water on this planet. Each lake differs from the other and yet these connected lakes are one flowing system connected to the Atlantic through the St. Lawrence River. Unique ecosystems evolved in these lakes since the last Ice Age but in the last 200 years commercial fishing and the Lamprey Eel wiped out larger fish. Shipping on the Great Lakes from all parts of the world has brought exotic species that threaten to topple food pyramids. Pollution carried through the air and water damages life in and around these lakes. Through knowledge, and the democratic process, The Dynamic Great Lakes encourages us to appreciate and understand these lakes and to get involved in finding answers to their problems. |
Contents
Overview of the Great Lakes and St Lawrence | 7 |
Eagles and Food Pyramids | 9 |
How the Great Lakes Were Formed | 15 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
Alewife Alewives algae American Eels Atlantic Salmon beaches birds Brown Trout Burbot Canada caused changes chemicals Chinook Salmon Cisco Clair Coho Salmon commercial fishermen deep eagles ecological ecosystem eggs eutrophic extinct feed feet five Great Lakes flowing food chains food pyramid fossil fresh water freshwater glaciers habitat hatch human Ice Age insects Lake Erie Lake Erie's Lake Huron lake levels Lake Michigan Lake Ontario Lake St Lake Superior Lake Trout Lakes waters Lamprey Eel Landlocked Atlantic Salmon larvae Lawrence River layer living things Mary's River Mayflies Michigan and Huron Michigan and Lake miles native Lake Trout native species Niagara River niche numbers oligtrophic oxygen PCBs Perch pesticides phytoplankton Pink Salmon plankton planted fish pollution populations pounds predator fish problem Rainbow Trout rock shore shoreline Smelt spawning Sturgeon surface area surface water temperature toxic toxins tributary streams Walleye warm water levels waves White wildlife Zebra Mussels zooplankton