The Great Lakes are a gift of nature, whose beauty and bounty enrich our lives and identify our region. In the sections listed above, you read about how we experience the Lakes in our lives – whether we're playing at the beach, fishing the Lakes, hunting the Northwoods or southern forests, spending a solitary dawn birdwatching, or even going about our daily lives at home.

And how all those experiences are at risk – threatened by pollution, habitat destruction, invasive species, overconsumption and water exportation.

The Great Lakes are a place we can all call home – an incredible and precious resource for us to use and protect. Visit the Memories section to read personal stories about the Great Lakes.