Superior Michigan Huron Erie Ontario
Greatest Length (M.) 360 307 206 241 193
Greatest Breadth (M.) 160 118 101 57 53
Deepest Soundings (Ft.) 1,012 870 750 210 738
Area (Sq. M.) 32,060 22,336 22,978 9,968 7,243
Above sea level (Ft.) 602 581 581 572 246
U.S. shore line (M.) 735 1,200 470 350 230
The population of the states and provinces bordering on the Great
Lakes is estimated to be 50,000,000 or more. In Pennsylvania and
Ohio, south of Lake Erie, there are large coal fields.
Surrounding Lake Michigan and west of Lake Superior are vast
grain growing plains, and the prairies of the Canadian northwest
are constantly increasing the area and quantity of wheat grown;
while both north and south of Lake Superior are the most
extensive iron mines in the world, from which approximately
55,000,000 tons of ore are shipped annually. The Great Lakes
provide a natural highway for the shipment of all these products.