The Great Lakes are a system of five large freshwater lakes in North America. The lakes are (from west to east) Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, and Ontario. They are located in the Great Lakes Basin, which drains an area of about 24,000 square miles (62,100 km2) in parts of the U.S. states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and the Canadian province of Ontario. The Great Lakes form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total area, and second-largest by total volume, containing 21% of the world's surface fresh water by volume. The Great Lakes Basin is home to 33 million people, two-thirds of the population of the U.S. states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, and one-quarter of the population of Ontario, Canada.
The Great Lakes are the largest system of freshwater lakes in the world. They are a critical part of the North American continent, and are essential to the continent's economy and ecology. The Great Lakes are home to a vast array of plant and animal life, and support a variety of human activities.
The Great Lakes are a major source of fresh water for the continent. They are also a critical transportation hub, connecting the East and West coasts of the continent. The Great Lakes are also a major tourist destination, attracting visitors from around the world.