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| The Great Lakes |
| When cruising America's Great Loop, (depending on your chosen route,) you may cruise through Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan. |
The large size of the Great Lakes increases the risk of water travel; storms and reefs are
common threats. Historically, many commercial Merchant ships have successfully crossed
oceans only to meet their doom on the Great lakes. Most of the shipwrecks lie near Thunder
Bay near the point where eastbound and westbound shipping lanes converge. "Shipwreck
Coast" from Grand Marais, Michigan to Whitefish Point became known Point area than any
other part of Great Lakes.
The last major freighter wrecked on the lakes was the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank on
November 10, 1975, just over 30 miles (50 km) offshore from Whitefish Point. In June 2008
deep sea divers in Lake Ontario found the wreck of the 1780 Royal Navy warship HMS
Ontario in what has been described as an "archaeological miracle".
Now, having said that... It would be OK - if I scared you into always being extra safe In fact
with todays technology such as GPS on boats and with weather forecasting, you have nothing
more to worry about on the Great Lakes as you do in your own Marina. In fact, the Great
Lakes make up what would be the Boating Capital of the World with an estimated 120,000
recreational boats (too large to trailer) kept at Great Lakes Marinas. So obviously, (like
anything else) cruising on the Great Lakes is just as safe as you are. In fact, if your cruising
the Great Loop - you will be off these waters long before the cold and worst of the weather.
All together, the Great Lakes with their connecting channels, form the largest fresh surface
water system on earth. From the moon, Astronauts can see the lakes and recognize each
familiar shape of Lake Superior, Michigan, Huron, Ontario, and Erie. Covering more than
94,000 square miles and draining more than twice as much land, these Freshwater Seas
contiguous 48 states, the lakes' water would be almost 10 feet deep.
The channels that connect the Great Lakes are an important part of the system. The St.
Marys River is the northernmost of these, a 60-mile waterway flowing from Lake Superior
down to Lake Huron. At the St. Marys rapids, the Soo Locks bypass the rough waters,
providing safe transport for boaters. The St. Clair and Detroit rivers, and Lake St. Clair
between them, form an 89-mile long channel connecting Lake Huron with Lake Erie. The
35-mile Niagara River links lakes Erie and Ontario, and sends approximately 100,000 cubic
feet of water per second over Niagara Falls; the from Ontario to Lake Erie via the Erie Canal.
The two canals (Erie and Welland) from the Great Lakes flows through the St. Lawrence
River all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, about 1,000 miles away.
On each of the Great Lakes, you can boat far enough out from shore, that you will not be able
to see any land in any direction. WOW! But of course, if you are one that prefers to stick a
little closer to shore, you can do that to. One could probably spend a life time cruising around
all the Great Lakes and never see all the wonderful sites or experience all the incredible
adventures this land of lakes has to offer.
water system on earth. From the moon, Astronauts can see the lakes and recognize each
familiar shape of Lake Superior, Michigan, Huron, Ontario, and Erie. Covering more than
94,000 square miles and draining more than twice as much land, these Freshwater Seas
contiguous 48 states, the lakes' water would be almost 10 feet deep.
The channels that connect the Great Lakes are an important part of the system. The St.
Marys River is the northernmost of these, a 60-mile waterway flowing from Lake Superior
down to Lake Huron. At the St. Marys rapids, the Soo Locks bypass the rough waters,
providing safe transport for boaters. The St. Clair and Detroit rivers, and Lake St. Clair
between them, form an 89-mile long channel connecting Lake Huron with Lake Erie. The
35-mile Niagara River links lakes Erie and Ontario, and sends approximately 100,000 cubic
feet of water per second over Niagara Falls; the from Ontario to Lake Erie via the Erie Canal.
The two canals (Erie and Welland) from the Great Lakes flows through the St. Lawrence
River all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, about 1,000 miles away.
On each of the Great Lakes, you can boat far enough out from shore, that you will not be able
to see any land in any direction. WOW! But of course, if you are one that prefers to stick a
little closer to shore, you can do that to. One could probably spend a life time cruising around
all the Great Lakes and never see all the wonderful sites or experience all the incredible
adventures this land of lakes has to offer.
| Chicago Skyline |
| Lake Michigan Sunset |
| Regardless of the route you choose, the Great Lakes promise a boat load of adventure and beautiful Islands in Lake Ontario, to downtown Chicago at Lake Michigan - you'll see miles of and beautiful horizons, |
| © 1993 - 2012 CaptainJohn.org |
| Capt John's America's Great Loop |
