- The Great Lakes contain one fifth of the Earth’s surface fresh water and provide drinking water for 40 million people.
- 35 million people live in the Great Lakes watershed, and 12 of the largest cities in the United States are located along Great Lakes shores.
- The Great Lakes Navigation System supports over 128,000 jobs and produces a total of $18.1 billion in business revenue annually.
- More than 9 million anglers, 4 million hunters, and 23 million bird watchers rely on the Great Lake’s natural resources each year.
