Visualized: The Depth of The Great Lakes
Click here to view the interactive version of the visualization on Tableau.
As the seasons change, it’s natural to want to enjoy the outdoors to the fullest. The Great Lakes, a distinct geographical region sandwiched between the U.S. and Canada, provides immense opportunity for millions of tourists to do just that every year.
But did you know that altogether the Great Lakes contain 21% of the world’s surface freshwater by volume—or 84% of the surface freshwater in North America?
This bathymetric visualization, created by Alex Varlamov, helps put the sheer size and depth of all five of the Great Lakes into perspective.
What is Bathymetry?
Bathymetry is the study of the underwater depth of ocean or lake floors, a geographical science that falls under the wider umbrella of hydrography.
In essence, it is the underwater equivalent of topography. Contour lines help to represent and study the physical features of bodies of water, from oceans to lakes.
Most bathymetric studies are conducted via sonar systems, transmitting pulses that ‘ping’ off the ocean and lake floor, uncovering what lies below.
The Depth of the Great Lakes, Compared
High on the list of the world’s largest lakes, the five Great Lakes altogether account for over 244,700 km² (94,250 mi²) in total surface area. That’s bigger than the entire United Kingdom.
Lake Superior emerges, well, superior in terms of total surface area, water volume, and both average and maximum depth.
| Surface area | Water volume | Average depth | Maximum depth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Ontario | 19,000 km² (7,340 mi²) |
1,640 km³ (393 mi³) |
86 m (283 ft) |
245 m (804 ft) |
| Lake Erie | 25,700 km² (9,910 mi²) |
480 km³ (116 mi³) |
19 m (62 ft) |
64 m (210 ft) |
| Lake Michigan | 58,000 km² (22,300 mi²) |
4,900 km³ (1,180 mi³) |
85 m (279 ft) |
282 m (925 ft) |
| Lake Huron | 60,000 km² (23,000 mi²) |
3,500 km³ (850 mi³) |
59 m (195 ft) |
228 m (748 ft) |
| Lake Superior | 82,000 km² (31,700 mi²) |
12,000 km³ (2,900 mi³) |
147 m (483 ft) |
406 m (1,333 ft) |
Lake Erie is by far the shallowest of the lakes, with an average depth of just 19 meters (62 ft). That means on average, Lake Superior is about eight times deeper.
With that in mind, one drawback of the visualization is that it doesn’t provide an accurate view of how deep these lakes are in relation to one another.
For that, check out this additional visualization also created by Alex Varlamov, which is scaled to the same 20 meter step—in this view, Lake Erie practically disappears.
More than Meets the Eye
The Great Lakes are not only notable for their form, but also their function—they’re a crucial waterway contributing to the economy of the area, supporting over 50 million jobs and contributing $6 trillion to gross domestic product (GDP).
Together, the five Great Lakes feed into the Atlantic Ocean—and when we expand the scope to compare these lakes to vast oceans, trenches, and drill holes, the depth of the Great Lakes barely scratches the surface.
