Discover the Great Lakes: 11 Amazing Fun Facts to Unleash Your Inner Explorer

1. Ohio's Lake Erie Salt Mines

When life gives you Lake Erie, make salt: Ohio produces a whopping 5 million tons of rock salt annually, much of which is mined 2,000 feet below Lake Erie using colossal machines to extract halite, and companies like Morton Salt are at the forefront of this salty endeavor with mines like the one in Fairport Harbor.
Source => wired.com

2. Great Lakes' Diverse Ecosystem

Feeling a bit "fin-icky" about freshwater? The Great Lakes are here to fish you a whopper of a tale: Home to over 170 types of fin-tastic fishy friends and supporting a lively underwater community of more than 3,500 different plants and animals, these freshwater celebrities make for one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet.
Source => canr.msu.edu

Did you know Lake Michigan is not just a beautiful body of water, but a major shipping route and economic powerhouse? Discover its connection to the mighty Poseidon and Chicago's bustling port!

=> Fun Facts about Lake-Michigan

3. Nature's Ultimate Party

If the Great Lakes were a party, they'd definitely be the life of it, hosting a guest list that would turn any event planner green with envy: Over 3,500 plant and animal species-fam, bringing together freshwater royalty like salmon and trout, and VIPs such as bald eagles and black bears, all mingling in one big, wet, wild shindig.
Source => a-z-animals.com

4. Lake Superior's Pool Party

When Mother Nature decided to throw a pool party for the continents, she got a bit carried away with Lake Superior: The massive body of water could actually submerge both North and South America under a foot of water!
Source => epa.gov

5. Wetsuit Decisions at Great Lakes

Surfers, grab your wetsuits, or leave them at home - it's a choose your own adventure in the Great Lakes: Depending on the season and location, northern Great Lakes like Lake Superior have water temperatures ranging from the 30s to 70s Fahrenheit, while southern Great Lakes like Lake Erie boast temperatures from the 50s to 80s Fahrenheit during the summer months, making wetsuit selections quite the diverse wardrobe decision.
Source => thirdcoastsurfshop.com

6. Lake Champlain: The Musical

Lake Champlain: The Splash-hit Broadway Show of 1609! Brought to you by the French explorer Samuel de Champlain and his First Nations ensemble, this thrilling adventure leads to the discovery of a lake so great it gets to bear his name: And now, coming to the soggy stage between Vermont and New York, it's Lake Champlain, a strategic powerhouse during the French-First Nations and Iroquois conflicts!
Source => thecanadianencyclopedia.ca

7. Lightfoot's Titanic-less Ballad

Who needs "Titanic" when you've got Lightfoot: Gordon Lightfoot's ballad "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" tells the captivating tale of the ill-fated bulk carrier that sunk on Lake Superior in 1975 – sans Leo and Kate, but with all the emotion and watery drama, just without the Oscars.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Lake Huron's Shoreline Shindig

If Lake Huron were to throw a shoreline shindig, it'd be the longest party ever – quite literally: With a massive shoreline of 3,827 miles, Lake Huron boasts the lengthiest freshwater shoreline in the world, including the extensive Georgian Bay and Manitoulin Island areas, making it the ultimate playground for outdoor enthusiasts and vista admirers.
Source => glisa.umich.edu

9. Sailing: Atlantic to Vikings' Land

Ahoy, landlubbers! Ever dreamed of sailing from the Atlantic's salty depths to the lands of cheese and Vikings, all without losing sight of freshwater? Well, anchors aweigh, Captain, because it's possible: The St. Lawrence Seaway, a clever concoction of locks, canals, and channels, allows ocean cruisers to gallivant their way from the proud Atlantic right up to Duluth, Minnesota, at the edge of mighty Lake Superior.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. Lake Superior's Volcanic Secrets

Think Lake Superior is just a regular lake? Think again—it's got a volcanic temper simmering beneath the surface: Around 24 million years ago, a rising cylinder of hot mantle rock triggered intense volcanic activity, leading to the creation of Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula and Isle Royale, both now part of the very lake named Superior.
Source => lakesuperior.com

11. Great Lakes' Shipwreck Treasure Trove

Ahoy, history buffs and scuba divers, ever heard of the Great Lake Titanic? Well, there isn't one, but there's a treasure trove of shipwrecks waiting to be explored: The Great Lakes boast an estimated 1,500 shipwrecks, preserved in ship-shape condition due to the fresh, cold water. These underwater museums provide a fascinating glimpse into Michigan's transportation and naval architecture history, drawing aquatic archaeologists and adventure-seekers from far and wide.
Source => michigan.gov