Relative Location of the Great Lakes

Continental Position

The five Great Lakes form a freshwater chain across east-central North America, straddling the Canada–United States border.

Political Boundaries

• Canadian side: Ontario (all five), Québec (Lake Ontario only).
• U.S. side: Minnesota (Superior), Wisconsin (Superior, Michigan), Michigan (four lakes—Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie), Illinois (Michigan), Indiana (Michigan), Ohio (Erie), Pennsylvania (Erie), New York (Erie, Ontario).

Geographic Context

• South of Hudson Bay / Canadian Shield.
• North of the Ohio & Mississippi River basins.
• East of the Great Plains; west of the Appalachians / St. Lawrence Valley.
• Connected to Atlantic via St. Lawrence River (1,000 km / 600 mi northeast).

Why It Matters

This binational position drives joint management (IJC), shipping (Seaway), and ecosystem governance for 34M basin residents.