4The Great Lakes are North America's own inland seas. What surprises lurk hidden at the bottom of the Great Lakes, or in their past? Pirates, shipwrecks, forests, and mysteries abound. Bordered by nine states or provinces, the Great Lakes hold 21% of the world's fresh water. In this young reader's book, the author lays out the history and future of the Great Lakes in its many facets. She includes the geological, ecological, and human history. By weaving these all together, the author allows the reader to better understand the world's largest group of freshwater lakes, and their impact on people across North America, and beyond.