How 23 quadrillion liters of water shaped a continent

What’s so great about the Great Lakes? - Cheri Dobbs and Jennifer Gabrys · 4:47 · Video: TED-Ed · Watch at the source

In short: The Great Lakes are more than just massive bodies of water; they are geological giants that define an entire region. This video explores the prehistoric forces that carved these basins and created one of the world's most significant freshwater systems.

Spanning across eight states, the lakes—Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior—hold a staggering 23 quadrillion liters of water. They serve as vital habitats for approximately 3,500 species, supporting diverse ecosystems ranging from forests to wetlands.

The video traces the origins of these massive features back to the Ice Age. By examining the geological history of North America, it explains how glacial activity sculpted the landscape to create these unique and vast freshwater reservoirs.

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