The Great Lakes in Order: West to East

The five Laurentian Great Lakes, sequenced from westernmost to easternmost:

1. Lake Superior — Largest by surface area (31,700 mi²) and volume. Borders MN, WI, MI, ON. Deepest (1,333 ft).
2. Lake Huron — 2nd largest surface area (23,000 mi²). Includes Georgian Bay & Manitoulin Island (world's largest lake island). Borders MI, ON. Connected to Michigan via Straits of Mackinac.
3. Lake Michigan — 3rd largest surface (22,400 mi²), 2nd largest volume. Only lake entirely within US. Borders IL, IN, MI, WI. Hydrologically one lake with Huron.
4. Lake Erie — 4th largest surface (9,900 mi²), shallowest (avg 62 ft), warmest. Borders MI, OH, PA, NY, ON. Most biologically productive. Drains via Niagara River.
5. Lake Ontario — Smallest surface (7,340 mi²), 2nd deepest (802 ft). Borders NY, ON. Outlet to St. Lawrence River → Atlantic.

Mnemonic: S**uperior **H**uron **M**ichigan **E**rie **O**ntario (SHMEO) or **S**oldiers **H**ate **M**arching **E**ndlessly **O**nward.