The Great Lakes are a group of five large freshwater lakes located in North America. They are Ontario (7 letters), Huron (5 letters), SUPERIOR (8 letters), Michigan (8 letters), and Erie (5 letters). These lakes form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth, containing about 20% of the world's surface fresh water. They are also connected by the St. Lawrence River, which flows from Lake Ontario to the Atlantic Ocean. The Great Lakes are an important source of drinking water, recreation, and transportation for the region.