There are countless numbers of bodies of water in the world. They range from babbling brooks, which are streams of fresh water that flow above ground, to lakes to extremely large and vast oceans, such as the Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and the largest body of water in the world, the Pacific Ocean. Each body of water is significant in its own way. These bodies of water are used as sources of drinking water or leisurely activities, such as swimming, boating, fishing, and more. This discusses the top 5 largest natural bodies of water found in North America.



Lake Superior, located on the border of Canada and North America, is the largest of the five Great Lakes of North America. This lake is the largest freshwater lake not only in the United States but also in the world by surface area. Bordered by Wisconsin and Michigan in the south and Ontario, Canada and Minnesota in the north, this lake boasts a surface area of 31,820 square miles. Its average depth is 482 feet; its deepest is 1,332 feet. Lake Superior houses several islands, the biggest being Isle Royale, which contains smaller islands within smaller lakes. Due to its vast size, it mimics the behavior and climate of the sea, regulating temperatures during the summer and winter.

The second largest body of water is Lake Huron, one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Its surface area measures at 23,010 square miles, which makes it the third largest fresh water lake on earth. The average depth is 195 feet; its deepest is 750 feet. Originally named La Mer Douce, meaning the fresh-water sea, Lake Huron is named after the Huron people who lived in the area when the French explorers discovered the land.

The third largest body of water is Lake Michigan, which is also one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is the only one of the five lakes that is entirely within the United States border, surrounded by the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana. With a surface area of 22,400 square miles, its average depth is 279 feet and its deepest is 923 feet. The state of Michigan and the lake itself is believed to have come from mishigami, meaning great water in Ojibwa Indian.

The fourth largest body of water is Great Bear Lake, Canada's largest lake. With an average depth of 235 feet and a maximum depth of 1,463 feet, its surface area measures at 12,028 square miles. From November to July, Great Bear Lake is completely covered in ice.

Finally, the fifth largest body of water is Great Slave Lake, also located in Canada. It covers 11,000 square miles with the maximum depth at 615 feet and an average depth of 105 feet. Like Great Bear Lake, it is frozen for about eight months out of the year. Prior to the construction of highways around the lakes in 1967, goods were transported by semi-trailer trucks that traveled on the thick ice.