Final answer:
The Saint Lawrence, Chicago, Des Plaines rivers, and the Erie Canal are the four rivers/canals connecting the Great Lakes by allowing for transportation and trade while also facilitating the spread of species.
Step-by-step explanation:
The four rivers that help to connect the Great Lakes and provide vital transportation pathways are:
- The Saint Lawrence River, which is North America's most important deepwater ship route, connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.
- The Chicago River, which was historically reversed to link Lake Michigan with the Mississippi River via the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.
- The Des Plaines River, which is part of the waterway network connecting to the Mississippi River system near Chicago.
- The Erie Canal that connects the Hudson River with Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, historically providing a water route to the Atlantic.
Together, these rivers and canals have facilitated transportation, trade, and the spread of species, both native and invasive, creating complex ecological and economical impacts.