The Great Lakes: North America's 'Third Coast'
The Great Lakes: North America's 'Third Coast'
Jesse Lewis, OurAmazingPlanet Contributor | September 24, 2010
Collectively made up of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario, the Great Lakes form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth. Squashed between the borders of the United States and Canada in the midst of the North American continent, these giant freshwater seas have long been the defining feature ecologically, culturally and economically in this part of the world since time immemorial.
Extending over 80,545 square miles (206,610 square kilometers) in surface area and over 5,412 cubic miles (22,560 cubic km) in volume, the Great Lakes hold over 20 percent of the surface fresh water on planet Earth. To give some sense of this immense scale, the whole of the United Kingdom could easily fit within the Great Lakes with room to spare.
Despite their beauty and vastness, outside of this region they are often overlooked and unknown. But to many who live along these northern coasts sometimes called the "Third Coast" the Great Lakes are a constant companion, a treasure and a well-kept secret.
Click this link to see the fabulous slide show and fascinating stories about The Great Lakes:
http://www.livescience.com/29705-great-lakes-freshwater.html
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Having lived almost all my life on the edge of Lake Ontario, I have considerable appreciation for the Great Lakes. Perhaps because of that (besides the fact that my sign is Aquarius), I have always been most comfortable when close to water, rather than being near or in mountains or desert. Next to each slide there is a superb explanation and information about the lakes.
And, Kavika, it does mention how the original Indians, in particular the Ojibwe, maintained the evironment in a pristine condition, as it was the Europeans who have "dirtied the waters".
In addition to their size, a huge amount of commerce moves across the lakes.
Their beauty, and the natural beauty surrounding them is breathtaking. The North Shore of Lake Superior is among the most beautiful drives in the world.
They are also the spiritual home to my people, the Ojibwe. Gitchi-Gumi (Lake Superior) is beyond belief in it's size and beauty.
Photo of Split Rock Lighthouse, Lake Superior.
Not only can you not see across a Great Lake, but you don't have to go out too far before you cannot see land anywhere. I grew up on Lake Erie. For all practical purposes, it's practically a fresh water ocean.
Yup, at the height of most small boats, the horizon is between ten and twelve miles away in clear weather. A fast runabout can do that within about 15 minutes. At that point, if you don't have a compass, you're screwed. This is something that a lot of boaters have forgotten over the years. Also, with the way the prevailing wind and current sets on Lake Huron, if your engine gives out, your next stop will be Canada. This almost happened to my dad, many years back. He was out fishing with my wife in my boat (with which he was not familiar), when the motor stopped. He totally freaked out. My wife just calmly walked to the back of the boat, unhooked the line from the gas tank, hooked it to the spare, grinned at him and said, "Try it now". He always checked for a full tank and spares after that.
When we first moved here (off the Niagara River, between Lakes Erie and Ontario), my lady's sister said 'what ocean is that?'as we were passing along the Lake Ontario shoreline.
Must be a sight to see, I have not seen it in real life; I have been to Toronto once and stopped at Niagara Falls on the way back but that is as far North I've been. Unless Niagara flows from the Great Lakes, not sure.
Really a great article here and thanks Buzz!
I have had the pleassure to visit all the Great lakes, yet only know Superior kinda well. I would second kavika's comment about the North Shore drive; it's an experience all should have at least once in their life time.
I would also add that the culture of food and drinkin the little towns thatdot the Lakes regions are second to none! Some truly wonderful cuisine to be found in little outta the way places, that you would least expect.
:~)
The Niagara Flows basically north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. I've been out on Lake Erie in my boat, though, it 's more like an inland sea-when it's rough, it's very rough. I moved recently and am working on mooring my boat on Lake Ontario, which is also pretty darned big. Sometimes you can see Toronto from Olcott Beach in New York, sometimes not., if you look due north or north east, you cannot see anything but the lake as it disappears over the horizon.
Some fun wines too - if you're into the sweeter varieties.
Yup. Had a fantastic strawberry rhubarb pinot from northern Michigan when over at Mackinaw a couple of years back, and a blackberryCabthat is one of the best ones I've ever tried! There are also a lotta craft brewers and man-o-man some of 'em beers are soooo gooooooddddd.......
:~)
My lady's favorite is White Catawba from Mon Ami near Port Clinton. A little sweet for my taste, but really fun to get hammered on once in a while. Strawberry rhubarb sounds interesting - although it would have wine snobs thrusting their noses up high. Hell, when it comes to wine, I'll drink anything. When it comes to beer, I'll drink most anything but domestic piss water (Bud, Miller, Natty, etc.). Love the IPA's.
It's funny but I had never really gotten into wine until the last few years, so my expectations were severely ignorant of the ins-and-outs of wine tasting. I kinda have an idea now, but honestly just go with whatever my wife preffers. I know our local shop has a fella fairly well versed in the market, and in his opinion, Americans are trying more and more sweeter varities, especially reds, every year.
Did someone say Hops!
:~)
Now your talking my language. While we were in Michigan we stopped in Kalamazoo at Bells brewpub....
Three beers in mind for ya to try from them guys...Hopslam, Two Hearted Ale, and Third Coast Beer,,,yum, yum!
Lol .... I had a girlfriend who cheated on me withsome douchebag from Kalamazoo about ten years ago... I might still be jaded.
The sweeter wines are definitely coming in vogue. We go through a lot of Moscato at our house. We visit all the local vineyards here in western MD, and many of them produce the sweet stuff. I prefer dryer, especially Pinot Noir, but I'll drink just about any wine.
Are you familiar with Flying Dog brewery? It's in my (new) home town. We drink a lot of their Raging Bitch (8.3%). Very hoppy.
Ah, only from reading about their brews (read an article about the oyster stout); I haven't been able to find any within my normal operating range of a couple hundred miles,at all.
:^(
The Great Lakes, in particular Superior and Huron (including Georgian Bay), were the inspiration for some of Canada's most famous painters - The Group of Seven and Tom Thomson. I once did an article on them - think I'll do another about their renditions of those lakes. Here are a few examples:
Stormy Weather, Georgian Bay, F.H.Varley
Morning Sun - Lake Superior, by Lawren Harris
Dear Friend Spikegary: I go to Olcott Beach each year for the fishing contests. We must hook up this year, when the state defrosts.
Enoch.
Dear Friend Arch Man: If you are ever in the area, let me know. I would love for you to stay with us.
I can give you tours of the seaway Trail for Lake Ontario. Also a whirl win tour of Finger Lakes Canandaigua, Seneca, Keuka and Cayuga. That is do able in one day.
Enoch.
Especially the seafood, Larry. I still remember a small place right across from the State Park at Taquamenon Falls, not far from Whitefish Point. Best Whitefish I've ever had, fresh caught that same day. Some ways it's even better than Salmon.
During the Spring and Summer, Lake Superior is about as beautiful as they come, whether ashore or from a boat. In November, of course, it gets really spectacular, but only from the shoreline. I've been through some of the worst that the Northern Pacific can hand out, but there's no way in the world that I'd take any kind of boat out there at that time. When people talk about the gales of November on Superior, they mean it. Even the professional sailors are afraid of her when she gets angry.
The Niagara Peninsula, which is between Lakes Erie and Ontario has bountiful fruit orchards and grapes. The world's best gold-star winning ice wines are made there, especially at the Inniskillen vinyards.
My grandmother had a cottage at Burlington Beach, which was at the far Western tip of Lake Ontario. I spent my childhood summers there, swimming in Lake Ontario. fishing with my favourite uncle off the canal and watching the long iron ore boats going through that canal (where the bascule bridge had to rise and stopping the traffic) into Burlington Bay where the steel manufacturing plants were, making Hamilton, Ontario, where I was born, the Pittsburg of Canada.
I have great memories of going with my dad when I was young on fishing launches out of Turkey Point on Lake Erie. We used to catch great bass, usually three to five pounds each, always achieving our limit (which was 6 per person). Back in those days there wasn't much pollution and the fried bass filets were wonderful. We went out fairly far into the lake, and I always marvelled at how shallow it seemed to be. Even when it got a bit rough I would sit up on the top of the launch eating sandwiches no matter how much the boat was rocking. I have never suffered from seasickness.
That's the area I'm looking at to moor the boat as there seems to be nothing else on this portion of the coast. Olcott was elected best small fishing town a couple years ago, I like to think I had a hand in that as I seeded the article on NV and asked people to go vote for Olcott Beach.
We like to go there, hang out a tthe old beach, go to Krull Park, walk around the village and take the kids on the 25 cent rides at the restored amusement center.
I always look forward to seeing you, my friend!
They have established and are enlarging the Niagara Wine Trail in New York that kind of is on the South Shore and inland from Lake Ontrario. It has gained a lot of noteriety. I'm hosting an international convention in June of 2015 and one of the 'Field Trips' will be a Wine Tour by bus.....
More info can be found here .
Addiitonally, the Wine Growing region outside of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario is also flourishing and easily accessible. The Village itself has a little bit of something for everyone. I've stayed at the Angel's Inn (been told it's haunted, but didn't see anything).
Buzz-One of our easy retreats is Port Dahlousie in St. Catherines. We love escaping there for a weekend. Not including border traffic, it's a half hour drive. For those that don't know this place, it is the place Rush was singing about in the song 'Lakeside Park'.
Dear Friend Spikegary: Deal. We are on!
First ride for the kids is on me. First Dog with mustard and kraut is also on me.
Mustard is generally on my shirt anyway.
Smiles.
E.