Introduction

Before discussing anything in particular, I want to utilize this first blog post to share with you the intended purpose of my blog.  MY primary objective is to share and spread the word of the problems which concern the Great Lakes as well as provide some insight into the lakes themselves.  By doing this, I'm hoping to increase the awareness of said problems but most importantly, share interesting information in regard to the lakes.  My intention is not to be an extremist; my bogs will not consist of eco-friendly, "Save the Lakes!", anti-pollution rants.  That being said, I hope that you will in some way be able to benefit from reading my blog.  Ending my first post, I would like to briefly discuss a few of the primary reasons for which the Great Lakes are so important, as well as mention a few of the numerous problems which target the lakes.

Upon looking at the Great Lakes, an individual can immediately assume that they are of great importance. Without any knowledge of the naval transportation systems, fisheries, the leisure activities taking place on them, etc... an individual can have the intuition to say that these massive expanses of water, are important. I'm sure that you are well aware of what makes these lakes so important, as even someone who had lived a life away from all civilization would know that these lakes are important, simply because they possess one of life's fundamental ingredients: water.  The Great Lakes are the world's largest freshwater lakes.  These enormous reservoirs of unsalted, unadulterated water provide fresh drinking water to thousands upon thousands of people in both Canada and the United States.  The Great Lakes have long been an indispensable resource to the regions surrounding them.  Indispensable, because the Great Lakes have long been integral to the  functioning of the regions around them, as well as to the naval  transportation system.  Outside of the vital function of providing fresh drinking water, the lakes also act as important pathways for ships, providing a gateway between the eastern river system and the St-Laurence River, which opens into the Atlantic Ocean.  The Great Lakes also provide ample opportunity for leisure activities. People taking advantage of the lakes are able to take part in activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, canoeing, diving, windsurfing, etc.

Not only do we rely on the lakes for their water, but so too do many other organisms.  The many sought after fish which inhabit the lakes, such as green bass, allow local fisheries to thrive (although the populations of desirable fish present in some of the lakes have decreased significantly within recent years).The numerous organisms inhabiting the lakes and those inhabiting the regions around them depend on the lakes for survival, and in turn the lakes can profit from the positive effects that many of these organisms have on them.

  With these five great lakes being so vital to the human and environmental life around them, it is important to acknowledge the problems they are facing and will face in the future, which threaten their quality, health and future so that we may be informed, and ready to make change.  Such problems can include things which threaten the lake ecosystems and water quality, which would in consequence have negative effects on the people who rely so profoundly on the lakes for their water.  Future blog posts will delve deeper into the problems that are affecting the ecosystems and water quality of the lakes, and all other pertinent information that surrounds these problems, like strategies that are in place in order to combat said problems, organizations which are contributing to both the good health and decline of the great lakes, etc.

Until next week, and thanks for reading!