Charting the inland seas: a history of the U.S. Lake Survey

: The five Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario, are one of our greatest natural wonders. Their sparkling 6 quadrillion gallons cover 94,500 square miles. With their connecting waterways, they form, by far, the world's largest inland water transportation system. From Duluth, Minnesota, the westernmost port, a ship travels 1,160 miles to the St. Lawrence River, and 2,340 miles to the open sea. I Throughout the history of the Great Lakes, many organizations played significant roles in the growth and development of this great waterway. One of the most important, and yet one of the least known, was the United States Lake Survey.