The Great Lakes are the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth. The five Great Lakes are in the United States and Canada. They are called Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario.
How were the Great Lakes created? According to some legends, the giant Paul Bunyan dug the Great Lakes for his pet Babe and his lumber camp because they needed enough drinking water. But the scientists told another story about the creation of the Great Lakes.
During the ice ages millions of years ago, glaciers, or huge pieces of ice, moved across the land. The huge glaciers changed the shape of the earth. In some places, it looked as if giants had left enormous thumbprints in cookie dough. Actually, it was giant glaciers that had caused the earth to sink, creating deep pits. Then about 14,000 years ago, the glaciers began to melt. Water from the melting glaciers filled the pits that the glaciers had made. So, the Great Lakes were created.
Activities:
1. How were the Great Lakes created? Discuss with your learning partners.
2. Lake Superior is the largest and deepest of the Great Lakes. It is 1,330 feet deep at its deepest place. Lake Baikal, in Russia, is the world’s oldest and deepest lake. It is 5,134 feet deep in one spot. How deeper is Lake Baikal than Lake Superior?
3. Have you ever visited the Great Lakes? What’s great about the Great Lakes? Watch the video to learn a little more about them.
