Brought to you by my "Fact-A-Day" desk calendar

[loracs]

"What is the world’s largest repository of fresh water?

The Great Lakes, remembered by the mnemonic “homes” – Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior – contains almost 20% of the world’s supply of fresh water, and nearly 90% of the supply in the United States."
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Which lake is the most "fresh", i.e. less polluted?  My guess is Huron.
Most polluted?  Maybe Michigan.
I'm too lazy to go hunt it up right now.  Does anyone know?

Comments

[waywardcats.livejournal.com]

Looking for your answers brought up this interesting fact:

In the 1960s, Lake Erie was declared "dead," though, ironically, it was full of life -- just not the right kind. Eutrophication had claimed Lake Erie and excessive algae became the dominant plant species, covering beaches in slimy moss and killing off native aquatic species by soaking up all of the oxygen. The demise of Lake Erie even made it into a Dr. Seuss book, The Lorax.

Source: http://www.great-lakes.net/teach/pollution/water/water5.html

[kightp.livejournal.com]

I lived in the Great Lakes region in the '60s, when alewives and other fish washed up dead on the beaches of Lake Eerie. Fortunately, the response was pretty quick, and the lake has recovered remarkably well.

[kightp.livejournal.com]

Here's a nifty little Great Lakes primer from one of my agency's sister programs, Wisconsin Sea Grant.

Looks like Superior remains the cleanest, and - surprisingly - Ontario may now be the most polluted, due to population increases and its relative shallowness.

[clever-doberman.livejournal.com]

well, now you've gotten me going, reading up on the lakes, pollution and otherwise.

I grew up in Chicago, and spent summers glued to the lake. we had a period of alewives stinking up the beaches, but the response there was also pretty swift.



the view of the great lakes from space: