are the great lakes like an ocean

Yes, sailing to the ocean from the Great Lakes is possible. Doty was found in Lake Michigan by an exploration diving team led by dive boat Captain Jitka Hanakova from her boat Molly V.[122] The ship sank in October 1898, probably attempting to rescue a small schooner, Olive Jeanette, during a terrible storm. [93], A number of self operating floating devices called Seabin, were put in the Great Lakes to capture plastic trash as part of the Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup project. In 1884, the New York Fish Commission determined that the dumping of sawmill waste (chips and sawdust) had impacted fish populations. [12] The largest among them is Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron, the largest island in any inland body of water in the world. All measurements at Low Water Datum. The Greatest Lakes The largest lake in the world by a long shot is the Caspian Sea - a name that hints at a past when it was contiguous with the ocean around 11 million years ago. Public outcry forced the company to abandon the plan before it began. The international boundary between the United States and Canada is also shown on the map - note how it crosses the lakes. As erosion continues over the Saint Lawrence River, the outflow will probably increase, resulting in a drop in the water levels of the lakes. As a chain of lakes and rivers, they connect the east-central interior of North America to the Atlantic Ocean. Periodic mass die-offs result in vast numbers of the fish washing up on shore; estimates by various governments have placed the percentage of Lake Michigan's biomass which was made up of alewives in the early 1960s as high as 90%. That's bigger than the entire United Kingdom. :) Sounds far less interesting. From me looking at maps, excluding the Caspian sea and the Great Lakes, I see these in common for seas and lakes: So back to these 2 bodies of water in question. Concerns by the mid-19th century included obstructions in the rivers which prevented salmon and lake sturgeon from reaching their spawning grounds. janetcbl. [71] The ruffe, a small percid fish from Eurasia, became the most abundant fish species in Lake Superior's Saint Louis River within five years of its detection in 1986. For instance, western Michigan has apple orchards, and cherry orchards are cultivated adjacent to the lake shore as far north as the Grand Traverse Bay. [32] Larger ships are confined to working within the lakes. In modern times, only about 1% of volume per year is "new" water, originating from rivers, precipitation, and groundwater springs. Although a drop of lake water may contain 1million bacteria cells and 10million viruses, only since 2012 has there been a long-term study of the lakes' micro-organisms. [61], The Great Lakes are an important source of fishing. Right now, the outflow, combined with evaporation both natural and man made, is larger than the inflow. The largest Lake Erie bloom to date occurred in 2015, exceeding the severity index at 10.5 and in 2011 at a 10. ADVERTISEMENT At one high-water stage, the waters of the Huron and Michigan basin formed one large lakeLake Algonquin. Several species of crayfish have also been introduced that may contend with native crayfish populations. It is also one of the worlds largest bodies of fresh water. The Great Lakes DO in fact experience tidal effects, though they are greatly diminished by barometric factors and wind. Photosynthesis carried out by diatoms constitutes about one fifth of the total photosynthesis.[where?] Implementation of secondary treatment of municipal sewage by major cities greatly reduced the routine discharge of untreated sewage during the 1970s and 1980s. The Great Lakes are the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total area and are second-largest by total volume, containing 21% of the world's surface fresh water by volume. The Great Lakes are connected by the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to the Gulf of Mexico via the Illinois River (from the Chicago River) and the Mississippi River. The entire crew of 23 drowned, except one, Charles Pitz, who floated on a life raft for almost seven hours. This form of mercury is not detrimental to a majority of fish types, but is very detrimental to people and other wildlife animals who consume the fish. [66], Since the 19th century, an estimated 160 new species have found their way into the Great Lakes ecosystem; many have become invasive; the overseas ship ballast and ship hull parasitism are causing severe economic and ecological impacts. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. [117] Its wreck may have been found in 2004,[118] but a wreck subsequently discovered in a different location was also claimed in 2014 to be Le Griffon. They are one of the great natural features of the continent and of the Earth. All five lakes are connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the Saint Lawrence River, which also serves as the drainage outflow for the Great Lakes Basin. And one of the differences is the wave periods and steepness. Posts: 26,684. [67] The last commercial fisherman left Milwaukee in 2011 because of overfishing and anthropogenic changes to the biosphere. As the slightly warmer, moist air passes over the colder land surface, the moisture often produces concentrated, heavy snowfall that sets up in bands or "streamers". One such spot boasts some of the bluest water in Michigan, and you might just want to spend all day unwinding along its shore. Great Lakes, chain of deep freshwater lakes in east-central North America comprising Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. Share More sharing options. [72] Five years after first being observed in the St. Clair River, the round goby can now be found in all of the Great Lakes. Some water is diverted through the Chicago River to operate the Illinois Waterway, but the flow is limited by treaty. Despite their vast size, large sections of the Great Lakes freeze over in winter, interrupting most shipping from January to March. [108] Lake Champlain briefly became the sixth Great Lake of the United States on March 6, 1998, when President Clinton signed Senate Bill 927. This effect can be very localized and overridden by offshore wind patterns. Why did US v. Assange skip the court of appeal? So why are the Great Lakes not considered a freshwater sea when other than the freshwater, they are essentially like any other sea? The sea lampreyan ancient Atlantic fish that wreaked havoc on the Great Lakesmay be America's first destructive invasive species. Removal of trees also destabilized the soil, with greater volumes washed into stream beds causing siltation of gravel beds, and more frequent flooding. The ancient rocks of the Canadian Shield cover part of the Superior and Huron basins, while Paleozoic sedimentary rocks make up the remainder of the basins. [125] A few small cruise ships operate on the Great Lakes including some sailing ships. What lakes comprise the Great Lakes of North America? The names of the five Great Lakes are Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior. @Sean Humans might be able of doing a lot of things, yes. These storms mainly occur during the night, and the systems sometimes have small embedded tornadoes, but more often straight-line winds accompanied by intense lightning. Worldwide, hundreds of marine species have been . [49] This is enough water to cover the 48 contiguous U.S. states to a uniform depth of 9.5 feet (2.9m). Since the opening of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System in 1959, large cargo vessels can travel from the Atlantic Ocean to Duluth, Minnesota, on Lake Superior-the farthest-inland . The lakes drain roughly from west to east, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean through the St. Lawrence lowlands. Baraka Farrington/Google. At least 13 wildlife species are documented as becoming extinct since the arrival of Europeans, and many more are threatened or endangered. The Black Sea was part of the same ocean, but has a much lower inflow than it loses to evaporation - hence the Black Sea has a salinity much higher than the oceans, while the Caspian Sea has a salinity significantly lower than the oceans. Both served as training ships to qualify naval aviators in carrier landing and takeoff. [51] The Great Lakes coast measures approximately 10,500 miles (16,900km);,[14] but the length of a coastline is impossible to measure exactly and is not a well-defined measure. The Great Lakes are also in question, to me at least. These fast-growing planktivorous fish have heavily colonized the Mississippi and Illinois river systems. [28] The second-largest island is Isle Royale in Lake Superior. The Great Lakes can have an effect on regional weather called lake-effect snow, which is sometimes very localized. Estimates range from 7,000 to 32,000 years of age. Particularly, the 1825 opening of the Erie Canal and the Welland Canal a few years later. "Meer"). [87][86], Until 1970, mercury was not listed as a harmful chemical, according to the United States Federal Water Quality Administration. While the organisms living on the bottom of shallow waters are similar to those found in smaller lakes, the deep waters contain organisms found only in deep, cold lakes of the northern latitudes. By the 1960s, the small silver fish had become a familiar nuisance to beach goers across Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Erie. Durbin, E.G. Now, let's see how the Great Lakes look under these criteria. Omissions? Has the cause of a rocket failure ever been mis-identified, such that another launch failed due to the same problem? [50], The total surface area of the lakes is approximately 94,250 square miles (244,100km2)nearly the same size as the United Kingdom, and larger than the U.S. states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire combined. [107] Today, the Great Lakes fleet is much smaller in numbers than it once was because of the increased use of overland freight, and a few larger ships replacing many small ones. After railroads and surface roads developed, the freight and passenger businesses dwindled and, except for ferries and a few foreign cruise ships, have now vanished. This is similar to the effect of warmer air dropping snow as it passes over mountain ranges. [36] The water level of Lake MichiganHuron had remained fairly constant over the 20th century[37] Recent lake levels include record low levels in 2013 in Lakes Superior, Erie, and Michigan-Huron,[38] followed by record high levels in 2020[39] in the same lakes. The five Great Lakes, as seen from left to right in a springtime satellite image, are Lakes . This was, in order of volume: iron ore, grain and potash. The large size of the Great Lakes increases the risk of water travel; storms and reefs are common threats. pp. The Great Lakes modify the climate of the surrounding region by absorbing a large quantity of heat in the warmer months, which is then lost to the atmosphere during the colder months. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Earth Science Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for those interested in the geology, meteorology, oceanography, and environmental sciences. The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt, as it's known, is visible from space, stretching like a sea monster across the ocean, with its nose in the Gulf of Mexico and its tail in the mouth of the Congo. The largest loss of life in a shipwreck out on the lakes may have been that of Lady Elgin, wrecked in 1860 with the loss of around 400 lives on Lake Michigan. The age of the Great Lakes is still not definitely determined. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [14] Throughout history, fish populations were the early indicator of the condition of the Lakes and have remained one of the key indicators even in the current era of sophisticated analyses and measuring instruments. The East Antarctic Ice cap OTOH has about 60m of sea level rise in it; roughtly double what'd be needed to flood the Caspian basin. In the early 19th century, the government of Upper Canada found it necessary to introduce similar legislation prohibiting the use of weirs and nets at the mouths of Lake Ontario's tributaries. @jamesqf We as a species are trying very hard to make that happen! In the late 1960s, the various state and federal governments began stocking several species of salmonids, including the native lake trout as well as non-native chinook and coho salmon; by the 1980s, alewife populations had dropped drastically. This bill, which reauthorized the National Sea Grant Program, contained a line declaring Lake Champlain to be a Great Lake. Remember that old German project to dry up the Mediterranean? "@mswann82 @gavinbena Have you ever actually been to the great lakes? If you are interested in trying the voyage, read on to . As the surfaces of Lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan, and Erie are all approximately the same elevation above sea level, while Lake Ontario is significantly lower, and because the Niagara Escarpment precludes all natural navigation, the four upper lakes are commonly called the "upper great lakes". Its range, which has expanded to Lake Huron, poses a significant threat to the lower lake fishery. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). In 1831, Alexander MacGregor from Goderich, Ontario found whitefish and herring in abundant supply around the Fishing Islands. [10] The lakes have been a major source for transportation, migration, trade, and fishing, serving as a habitat to many aquatic species in a region with much biodiversity. Not coincidentally, this status allows neighboring states to apply for additional federal research and education funds allocated to these national resources. As one "sea" they would share a common surface elevation, but they do not. The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes in the mid-east of North America that connect to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River. The first ship to sink in Lake Michigan was Le Griffon, also the first ship to sail the Great Lakes. By the mid-1950s, the lake trout populations of Lakes Michigan and Huron were reduced, with the lamprey deemed largely to blame. The Great Lakes system includes five large lakes, one small lake, four connecting channels, and the St. Lawrence Seaway. The RushBagot Treaty signed in 1818, after the War of 1812 and the later Treaty of Washington eventually led to a complete disarmament of naval vessels in the Great Lakes. [clarification needed][64], Overfishing has been cited as a possible reason for a decrease in population of various whitefish, important because of their culinary desirability and, hence, economic consequence. According to the bi-national (U.S. and Canadian) resource book, The Great Lakes: An Environmental Atlas and Resource Book: "The largest Great Lakes fish harvests were recorded in 1889 and 1899 at some 67,000 tonnes (66,000 long tons; 74,000 short tons) [147million pounds]. The surface area of the five primary lakes combined is roughly equal to the size of the United Kingdom, while the surface area of the entire basin (the lakes and the land they drain) is about the size of the UK and France combined. [114] Several ferries currently operate on the Great Lakes to carry passengers to various islands. Studies in the Lake Superior region indicate that a river system and valleys formed by water erosion existed before the Ice Age. Grain exports are also a major cargo on the lakes. The agreements strengthen protection against abusive water withdrawal practices within the Great Lakes basin. Don't get too hung up on the name - it's a very old name, long before modern definitions of what a sea is or isn't (and even today, some experts consider it a sea, while others consider it a lake). MathJax reference. Canada borders approximately 5,200 miles (8,400km) of coastline, while the remaining 5,300 miles (8,500km) are bordered by the United States. Unsurprisingly, the glacier-sourced melt water wasn't very salty. Why are the Great Lakes not considered a sea? Can my creature spell be countered if I cast a split second spell after it? How Lakes Are Formed All lakes fill bowl-shaped depressions in the Earth 's surface, called . Their drainage basin of about 295,710 square miles (which includes the areas of the lakes themselves and their connecting waterways) extends approximately 690 miles from north to south and about 860 miles from Lake Superior in the west to Lake Ontario in the east. The project captured 74,000 pieces of trash using this technology between 2020 and 2021, however it does not claim to catch up with 22million pounds (10.0kt) of plastic that ends up in Great Lakes every year. The large depressions got filled with melt water (at the end of the last ice age) and rainwater over time, as is typical of many other large/deep lakes. This causes cooler summers and warmer winters than would otherwise occur in the region. Since many immigrants settled for a time in New England before moving westward, many areas on the U.S. side of the Great Lakes also have a New England feel, especially in home styles and accent. Saline? [1][2][3] The total surface is 94,250 square miles (244,106km2), and the total volume (measured at the low water datum) is 5,439 cubic miles (22,671km3),[4] slightly less than the volume of Lake Baikal (5,666cumi or 23,615km3, 2223% of the world's surface fresh water). No, the Saint Lawrence River has. "Sea" versus "lake" versus "just part of the ocean" is a bit fuzzy, but there are two things that are universal about seas: They are saline. This is most noticeable along Lake Superior's shores. High on the list of the world's largest lakes, the five Great Lakes altogether account for over 244,700 km (94,250 mi) in total surface area. Image credit: Ted Lawrence/Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Lots of square waves. No list of Great Lakes beaches in Wisconsin is complete without mentioning North Beach. The lakes have not benefited from this development, however, and have been seriously affected by pollution. Several rivers, tributaries, and manmade canals connect the lakes and provide a major transportation route that links the inland areas with the Atlantic Ocean.It is estimated that more than 85 million people reside in the Great Lakes Megalopolis region, including some human settlements along the St . The Wisconsin Fisheries Commission noted a reduction of roughly 25% in general fish harvests by 1875. Many other water sports are practiced on the lakes such as yachting, sea kayaking, diving, kitesurfing, powerboating, and lake surfing. New York and Wisconsin's jurisdictions extend into two lakes, and each of the remaining states into one of the lakes. Lake Michigan is the largest lake that is entirely within one country. Corrections? "Sea" versus "lake" versus "just part of the ocean" is a bit fuzzy, but there are two things that are universal about seas: Now, let's see how the Great Lakes look under these criteria. [58] The lakes have a moderating effect on the climate; they can also increase precipitation totals and produce lake effect snowfall.[57]. Diatoms acquire inorganic carbon through passive diffusion of CO2 and HCO3, and use carbonic anhydrase mediated active transport to speed up this process. Do lakes tend to have elliptical shapes more often than circular shapes? Since 2000, the invasive quagga mussel has smothered the bottom of Lake Michigan almost from shore to shore, and their numbers are estimated at 900trillion. The Great Lakes have a humid continental climate, This is a result of significant expenditures to date on both infrastructure and technology, and robust regulatory systems that have proven to be, on the whole, quite effective. By janetcbl, Monday at 11:11 PM in Viking Ocean. @Dan Neely: As I said, barring serious changes in human behavior (and assuming it's not already too late for those changes to have effects), sea level rise will eventually join the Caspian to the Black Sea. In the early 21st century, Lake Superior's shores are 91% forested, Lake Huron 68%, Lake Ontario 49%, Lake Michigan 41%, and Lake Erie, where logging and urbanization has been most extensive, 21%. [91], The fish of the Great Lakes have anti-depressant drugs meant for humans in their brains, which has caused concerns. Both the province of Ontario and the state of Michigan include in their boundaries portions of four of the lakes: The province of Ontario does not border Lake Michigan, and the state of Michigan does not border Lake Ontario. 1. The Great Lakes are a chain of deep freshwater lakes in east-central North America comprising the lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. Individually, the lakes rank among the 14 largest in the world (see table). The greatest concentration of shipwrecks lies near Thunder Bay (Michigan), beneath Lake Huron, near the point where eastbound and westbound shipping lanes converge. 62, Iss. So they are in no direct risk of rising sea level. rev2023.4.21.43403. The Great Lakes could be considered a failed ocean. the Black Sea, this will not increase the salinity, since the salts are lost through the outflow, rather than being concentrated by evaporation. When a second fault line, the Saint Lawrence rift, formed approximately 570million years ago,[14] the basis for Lakes Ontario and Erie was created, along with what would become the Saint Lawrence River. This corresponds to thinking of lakes Erie and Ontario as "down south" and the others as "up north". About 10,000 years ago, the upper lakes evidently discharged through this area via the Ottawa River valley, and their levels were substantially reduced. The prevailing winds from the west pick up the air and moisture from the lake surface, which is slightly warmer in relation to the cold surface winds above. The answer is yes, our Great Lakes do have tides that occur twice each day, but they are much smaller in scale and barely noticeable unlike the ocean. While enormous public investments such as the Deep Tunnel projects in Chicago and Milwaukee have greatly reduced the frequency and volume of these events, they have not been eliminated. Only barges can access the Illinois Waterway system providing access to the Gulf of Mexico via the Mississippi River. [109] Following a small uproar, the Senate voted to revoke the designation on March 24 (although New York and Vermont universities would continue to receive funds to monitor and study the lake). Did the Golden Gate Bridge 'flatten' under the weight of 300,000 people in 1987? [80] Discharge of toxic substances has been sharply reduced. No, they're connected to the ocean by way of the, Sea-level connection? Many of the larger cities owe their existence to their position on the lakes as a freight destination as well as for being a magnet for immigrants. Use MathJax to format equations. [120] In 2008, deep sea divers in Lake Ontario found the wreck of the 1780 Royal Navy warship HMSOntario in what has been described as an "archaeological miracle". The present configuration of the Great Lakes basin is the result of the movement of massive glaciers through North America, a process that began about one million years ago during the Pleistocene Epoch. International treaties regulate large diversions. Not surprising that the Great Lakes are considered lakes, not seas. Although the lakes contain a large percentage of the world's fresh water, the Great Lakes supply only a small portion of U.S. drinking water on a national basis. Ontario is the most tightly regulated, with its outflow controlled by the Moses-Saunders Power Dam, which explains its consistent historical levels.

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