The Great Lakes:
An Environmental Atlas and Resource Book
Chapter One - Introduction: The Great Lakes
Chapter Two - Natural Processes in the Great Lakes
Chapter Three - People and the Great Lakes
Chapter Four - The Great Lakes Today - Concerns
Chapter Five - Joint Management of the Great Lakes
Chapter Six - New Directions for the Great Lakes Community
Glossary
Conversion Table (Metric
to Imperial Values)
References and Suggestions
for Further Reading
Sources for Maps
Great Lakes Factsheet No. 1
Physical Features And Population
Superior | Michigan | Huron | Erie | Ontario | Totals | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elevationa | (feet)** | 600 | 577 | 577 | 569 | 243 | |
(metres) | 183 | 176 | 176 | 173 | 74 | ||
Length | (miles)* | 350 | 307 | 206 | 241 | 193 | |
(kilometres) | 563 | 494 | 332 | 388 | 311 | ||
Breadth | (miles)* | 160 | 118 | 183 | 57 | 53 | |
(kilometres) | 257 | 190 | 245 | 92 | 85 | ||
Average Deptha | (feet)** | 483 | 279 | 195 | 62 | 283 | |
(metres) | 147 | 85 | 59 | 19 | 86 | ||
Maximum Deptha | (feet)* | 1,332 | 925 | 750 | 210 | 802 | |
(metres) | 406 | 282 | 229 | 64 | 244 | ||
Volumea | (cu. miles)* | 2,900 | 1,180 | 850 | 116 | 393 | 5,439 |
(km3) | 12,100 | 4,920 | 3,540 | 484 | 1,640 | 22,684 | |
Water Area |
(sq. mi.)* | 31,700 | 22,300 | 23,000 | 9,910 | 7,340 | 94,250 |
(km2) | 82,100 | 57,800 | 59,600 | 25,700 | 18,960 | 244,160 | |
Land Drainage Areab |
(sq. mi.)* | 49,300 | 45,600 | 51,700 | 30,140 | 24,720 | 201,460 |
(km2) | 127,700 | 118,000 | 134,100 | 78,000 | 64,030 | 521,830 | |
Total Area | (sq. mi.)* | 81,000 | 67,900 | 74,700 | 40,050 | 32,060 | 295,710 |
(km2) | 209,800 | 175,800 | 193,700 | 103,700 | 82,990 | 765,990 | |
Shoreline Lengthc | (miles)* | 2,726 | 1,638 | 3,827 | 871 | 712 | 10,210d |
(kilometres) | 4,385 | 2,633 | 6,157 | 1,402 | 1,146 | 17,017d | |
Retention Time | (years)** | 191 | 99 | 22 | 2.6 | 6 | |
Population: | U.S. (1990)† | 425,548 | 10,057,026 | 1,502,687 | 10,017,530 | 2,704,284 | 24,707,075 |
Canada (1991) | 181,573 | 1,191,467 | 1,664,639 | 5,446,611 | 8,484,290 | ||
Totals | 607,121 | 10,057,026 | 2,694,154 | 11,682,169 | 8,150,895 | 33,191,365 | |
Outlet | St. Marys River | Straits of Mackinac | St. Clair River | Niagara River/ Welland Canal | St. Lawrence River |
Notes:
- a Measured at Low Water Datum.
- b Land Drainage Area for Lake Huron includes St. Marys
River.
Lake Erie includes the St. Clair-Detroit system.
Lake Ontario includes the Niagara River. - c Including islands.
- d These totals are greater than the sum of the shoreline length for the lakes because they include the connecting channels (excluding the St. Lawrence River).
Sources:
- * Coordinating Committee on Great Lakes Basic Hydraulic and Hydrologic Data, Coordinated Great Lakes Physical Data. May, 1992
- ** Extension Bulletins E-1866-70, Michigan Sea Grant College Program, Cooperative Extension Service, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, Michigan, 1985
† 1990-1991 population census data were collected on different watershed boundaries and are not directly comparable to previous years.