Great Lakes Region of America (Mid North East States)
States
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and New York.
The actual Great Lakes are a chain of freshwater lakes located in eastern North America, on the Canada-United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth. The Great Lakes region contains not only the five main lakes themselves, but also numerous minor lakes and rivers, as well as approximately 35,000 islands.
Major Cities
Milwaukee (Wisconsin), Chicago (Illinois) Detroit (Michigan)
Geographical Layout
The geographical layout of this area is mostly reflective of its biggest influence – the great lakes which give it a maritime feel. However, there are a number of areas that touch into the neighboring Great Plains in the south and west and therefore bear little resemblance to their regional relations further north and east. Between the lake bordering aspects and the prairie bordering aspects you have the rolling hills and productive farmland. These 8 states create a region that is diverse with a large urban areas located close to the water sources and a number of smaller industrial and agricultural cities located further inland. Rural areas in the central portion of the region are typically composed of a patchwork of fields and forested areas. Occasional stretches of gently rolling hills lead to sandstone ravines carved out by the retreating glaciers. The extreme southeastern aspect of this region is more varied than that in the north and generally contains more hills and geographic variation than the northern portion.
Climate
A significant weather effect in this region is from the Great Lakes and is called the lake effect. In winter the lake effect acts on the region by picking up the moisture, with the prevailing winds from the west, and producing heavy snowfall (especially along lakeshores to the east such as Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Ontario, and New York) . In the summer the lake effect acts on the region by absorbing heat and cooling the air so that by the time fall arrives the effect has a slow and radiating (heating) effect creating a lovely fall season. A related effect occurs in the Finger Lakes region of New York producing heavy fog over the shoreline areas. The fog is also heavily concentrated along the shores of Lake Superior. While the coastal areas of this region experience this maritime climate, most of the interior portions of the region experience a more humid continental climate with hot, humid summers and cool to cold winters. The extreme southern portions of the region border on a humid subtropical climate with somewhat milder winters. Summertime maximum temperatures average around 85 °F (29 °C) with cooler nights around 60 °F (16 °C). Winters are a little more variable, but generally cool to cold temperatures with all but the northern part of the states averaging above freezing for the maximum January temperature, and the minimum temperature below 20 °F (-8 °C). The region receives a good amount of precipitation in all four seasons, with March through August being slightly wetter.
Business & Industry
Traditionally the lakes were used extensively for transport and cargo traffic, which still prevails today as a major source of business and industry for this region. Grain exports as well as other natural resources like coal, timber, and petroleum give this region its broad economic base. Transportation is another major industry within this region, with Chicago being a major airline hub and Detroit being a superpower of the auto industry. Mining both in the present and the past have figured prominently into this regions economic portfolio as well. With so much water at hand other noteworthy industries include the recreational boating and tourism industry. The buffering lake effects produce bountiful areas known as “fruit belts” yielding healthy apple and cherry orchards and rich vineyards.
Beyond Business
With a combined surface area of 94,710 square miles the great lakes offer a huge playground for recreational boating, sport fishing, and commercial fishing. The hearty fruit baskets also provide this region with another seasonal past time – wineries. Snow skiing and other winter activities can be found in a few locations.
Culture
Most of this regions culture came by way of the passenger lines in the 1800s, which transported immigrants. Many of the large and small cities around the great lakes owe their existence and heritage to these immigrants which are evident still today. As a result many areas have a pronounced ethnicity such as Dutch, German, Polish, Finnish, and many others. In Chicago and Detroit Jazz & Blues cultures rule the music scene. Epicureans will delight at the fineness of this regions food, and art enthusiasts will find Chicago full of wonderful treasures.