Interesting facts about the Great Lakes

Great Lakes, known around the world, form the largest reserves of fresh water worldwide. The volume of fresh water, which is "stored" in the Great Lakes, is one-fifth of the total volume of fresh water of the planet. The origins of the beautiful Great Lakes beginning in the mid-continent, over 3 800 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean, the river Seen Lawrence. Ecological system of the Great Lakes region supports one of the richest and most exclusive areas of the world. However, the man got here and, therefore, a change in the environment affected and this unique ecological system. That's why - because of the fact that the Great Lakes - is the largest repository of fresh water on the planet, but also because of the Great Lakes greatest threat looming on the governmental level between 2 countries - the United States and Canada, it was decided to adopt measures to reduce human impact on this segment of the environment. One of the paragraphs of the decision was the fact that you must change the way in which we live, and also consider other ways to trade, rather, delivery of goods for further trade.

In the "magnificent five" five most important lakes are lakes such as Lake Superior, Lake Erie, Michigan, Huron and Lake Ontario.

We are accustomed with the fact that most shipwrecks occur in the ocean. The causes of the catastrophe are as a rule, storms, icebergs and coral reefs. However, those who live near the Great Lakes region, not hearsay and are familiar with storms, and with the mysterious waves, and even ... with its own "version of" Flying Dutchman.


Storms on the Great Lakes -is a phenomenon of the same order as the storms in small seas. But they are much less frequently reported in the newspapers, and only some of the most famous disaster in the fall with breaking news, major newspapers. According to latest figures provided by American divers at the bottom of the Great Lakes region lies between six and ten thousand shipwrecked vessels. Every year this list is replenished found a dozen ships. It is possible to identify about one in 5 - water and time are not spared logbooks or buildings.

In September 18, 1679 in Niagara Falls (New York) had to come the ship "Griffon", belonging to the French traveler Rene Robert, the Chevalier de La Salle. This ship was built here, and it was well aware of the local residents. When it became clear that the "Griffon" is delayed, at first no one gave it special attention - the ships often got out of the schedule for several hours. But because the ship hasn't appeared either in a day or a week later, it became clear that there was another shipwreck. Witness the tragedy on the "Griffon" is not found, he simply disappeared. Its wreckage was found and identified only in 1955. But this is not the strangest thing. Many unfamiliar with each other people say that in foggy night "Griffon" is often seen quietly sailing on Lake Huron. At night it is impossible to discern all the details of its equipment, but the outlines of the vessel is easily recognizable.

With similar ghost ship on the Great Lakes have become accustomed. References to them can be found in the chronicles relating to the middle of XVII century. For example, in New Haven (Conn.) in 1648, many people at once saw ghost ship. And it is not just sailed past, and showed the astonished spectators shipwreck scene. This outstanding event has been interpreted as a sign sent down by God, throws light on the mystery of the death of one of the missing ships. However, those who faced the ghost ship, noted that they often depict scenes of his collapse, repeating them at each meeting with the observers.

Jay Gouli, who wrote a book about the mysteries of the Great Lakes region, described the disaster that has occurred with the cargo vessel «Sames E. Davidson» displacement of six thousand tons. If the disappearance of ships plied the waters of the Great Lakes region in the XVII century. Can be explained by their technical deficiencies and lack of meteorological stations, the loss of a modern cargo ship seems inexplicable. Wave effortlessly destroyed vessel capable of withstanding an ocean storm. Its power must be enormous!

Even more puzzling is that over the Great Lakes are missing aircrafts. Above the lake are more crashes than tabove he rest of the surrounding area. This area is gradually becoming the glory of the anomalous zone, no less famous than the Bermuda Triangle.