Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Great Lakes contain 21 percent of the world's surface fresh water. This volume equals 6 quadrillion U.S. gallons and would create a layer five feet deep if spread evenly across the North American continent.
The Great Lakes formed roughly 14,000 years ago when the Laurentide Ice Sheet retreated. This process left behind massive basins carved by glaciers that filled with meltwater to create the modern lakes.
Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake located entirely within the United States. All other Great Lakes form a water boundary between the United States and Canada.
The Edmund Fitzgerald sank on the 10th of November 1975. This ship was the largest and last major freighter wrecked on the Great Lakes and disappeared just over 53 miles offshore from Whitefish Point.
The Great Lakes are home to approximately 35,000 islands. The largest of these is Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron, which contains multiple lakes including Lake Manitou.