The Great Lakes – A Profile

Area: 94,650 sq. miles 246,000 sq. km.

Shoreline: 10,000 miles

17,000 km.

Volume: 5,439 cubic miles

22,684 cubic km.

• Estimated population within 100 miles of shoreline: 50 million.

• Flow of water over Niagara Falls: 202 million ft3 per second.

• 40% of all land area in the Great Lakes states and Ontario is forest land.

• Great Lakes are bordered by Ontario in Canada, and the States of (from West to East), Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.

• The Great Lakes aren't tidal, but their level fluctuates with rainfall and evaporation.

Approximate Season Depth Changes in the Great Lakes

Communication around the Great Lakes make cruising logistics exceptionally easy. From strategically placed major international airports, with world-wide connections, to excellent city facilities that can readily accommodate charters. Interstate & major highways provide effective fast ground transportation to ports of call.

For major material movements, intermodal connections via rail and truck are rapid and very economic. The availability of such effective communication, coupled with an active marine community makes storing, victualling or ship repair and hotel supply very easy.

Great Lakes - Cities & Major Airports

Great Lakes - Cities & Major Highways

Cruising through the Great Lakes, one would not realise that over 50m people live within 100 miles of a Great Lakes port. Although during the Lakes season, the number of small craft on the water, either lazing away a few summer days, or beating hard in one of the many races, shows that Lakes residents enjoy their hidden seas.

Many of these people want to be able to cruise again, and a survey conducted in 1994 by The Mariport Group Ltd suggested that as many as 16m were prospective passengers of Great Lakes cruises. This survey was conducted using C.L.I.A. criteria and only used the most likely category of cruise takers.