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Introduction
The Great Lakes of North America are a group of five interconnected freshwater lakes, which are renowned for their size, beauty, and ecological significance. They are considered the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world by surface area, holding over 20% of the Earth’s surface freshwater. The lakes are shared between Canada and the United States, with each country bordering four of the five Great Lakes. However, a commonly asked question is whether any state touches all five Great Lakes? In this blog post, we will delve deep into this question and provide a detailed answer.
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest and deepest of the Great Lakes, situated on the border between Canada and the United States. The lake is shared between the provinces of Ontario and the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. While Michigan borders Lake Superior, it does not touch its southernmost point. The closest point in Michigan to Lake Superior is the Upper Peninsula, separated by a narrow strip of land belonging to Wisconsin. Therefore, Michigan does not touch all five Great Lakes.
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake that is entirely within the United States, bordered by four states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Although Michigan borders Lake Michigan, it does not touch its southernmost point. The same narrow strip of land in Wisconsin separates Michigan from Lake Michigan’s southern shore. Therefore, Michigan does not touch all five Great Lakes.
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is situated on the border between Canada and the United States and is shared between the provinces of Ontario and Michigan. Michigan borders the eastern shore of Lake Huron, but it does not touch the lake’s southernmost point. The southernmost point of Lake Huron is located in the state of Ohio. Therefore, Michigan does not touch all five Great Lakes.
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the southernmost and shallowest of the Great Lakes, situated on the border between Canada and the United States. The lake is shared between the provinces of Ontario and the states of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. Michigan borders Lake Erie but does not touch its easternmost point, which is located in the state of New York. Therefore, Michigan does not touch all five Great Lakes.
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is the smallest and easternmost of the Great Lakes, situated on the border between Canada and the United States. The lake is shared between the provinces of Ontario and the state of New York. Although Michigan borders Lake Huron and Lake Erie, it does not border Lake Ontario. Therefore, Michigan does not touch all five Great Lakes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Michigan borders four of the five Great Lakes, it does not touch all five. The state’s closest point to Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron is separated by a narrow strip of land belonging to Wisconsin, while its closest point to Lake Erie is separated by a narrow strip of land belonging to New York. Therefore, no state touches all five Great Lakes. The Great Lakes remain a beautiful and significant natural resource shared between Canada and the United States, reminding us of the importance of preserving and protecting our environment for future generations.
