The Great Lakes

Fülszöveg

THE
GREAT LAKES
Gouged from the rock by ice age
glaciers, the Great Lakes of the North
American continent collectively
cover some 95,000 square miles to
form the largest surface area of
freshwater in the world. Over
thousands of years the waters of the
five Lakes have brought life to the
land and supported a rich variety of
flora and fauna. More recently, the
Lakes have attracted people to their
shores, helped feed them, and
contributed to the exploration,
colonization and ultimate economic
development of the two nations
whose border they straddle.
It is the Lakes that stimulated the
settlement and growth of such major
cities as Chicago, Toronto, Detroit
and Duluth, and it is the lakes that,
through various hydro-electric
schemes, provide much of the power
that their industries require. Since
the completion of the St. Lawrence
Seaway and its associated system of
locks, the importance of the Lakes
has grown still further, making cities
in the very... Tovább

Fülszöveg

THE
GREAT LAKES
Gouged from the rock by ice age
glaciers, the Great Lakes of the North
American continent collectively
cover some 95,000 square miles to
form the largest surface area of
freshwater in the world. Over
thousands of years the waters of the
five Lakes have brought life to the
land and supported a rich variety of
flora and fauna. More recently, the
Lakes have attracted people to their
shores, helped feed them, and
contributed to the exploration,
colonization and ultimate economic
development of the two nations
whose border they straddle.
It is the Lakes that stimulated the
settlement and growth of such major
cities as Chicago, Toronto, Detroit
and Duluth, and it is the lakes that,
through various hydro-electric
schemes, provide much of the power
that their industries require. Since
the completion of the St. Lawrence
Seaway and its associated system of
locks, the importance of the Lakes
has grown still further, making cities
in the very heartland of America
accessible to ocean-going shipping.
Maximizing their economic potential
has placed a severe strain on the
ecology of the Lakes, however:
pollution caused Erie to be
pronounced 'dead' in 1960, and the
other Lakes risk sharing the same
fate. With their varied shoreline,
their bird and fish life and the wealth
of sporting facilities that they offer,
the Great Lakes are a magnificent
recreational amenity that it is
essential to conserve. Vissza