The Great Lakes are a breathtaking and unique natural resource. They are the world’s largest surface freshwater ecosystem and contain 20 percent of all surface freshwater on the planet. More than 35 million people in eight states and Canada depend on the Lakes for their drinking water.
The Great Lakes watershed provides habitat for wildlife, including the gray wolf, Canada lynx and the millions of migratory birds that pass through in the spring and fall. The five lakes – Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario – are home to numerous fish such as walleye, whitefish, trout and lake sturgeon.
In spite of their majesty, the Great Lakes are fragile and face serious threats from invasive species, toxins, water diversion, wetland destruction, sewage overflows and climate change. It is up to use to conserve water and reduce pollutants to save our lakes!
