Final answer:
The Great Lakes are draining towards the east due to natural erosion processes and empty into the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River. Human activities such as reversing the Chicago River have impacted local ecosystems but haven't changed the overall drainage pattern of the lakes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Great Lakes are draining towards the east due to natural erosion processes. This drainage ultimately leads into the Saint Lawrence River and from there to the Atlantic Ocean. The direction of this drainage is not a result of human intervention, geological forces specific to the southern direction, or current changes in climate. Rather, it is due to the natural topography and erosion processes that have shaped the region over millennia.
Human activities, such as the reversal of the Chicago River for sanitation purposes, have had significant impacts on waterways connected to the Great Lakes. While these actions did redirect water flow for specific river sections and can affect local ecosystems and water movement, they have not altered the overall drainage pattern of the Great Lakes themselves.