This statistic shows the retention/replacement time of the Great Lakes in North America.Retention/replacement time means the amount of time it would take for the lake to get rid of pollutants. It would take take 99 years to get rid of pollutants in Lake Michigan.
Retention/replacement time of the Great Lakes (in years)*
Characteristic
Retention/replacement time in years
Lake Superior
191
Lake Michigan
99
Lake Huron
22
Lake Erie
3
Lake Ontario
6
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The Great Lakes contain the largest supply of freshwater in the world, holding about 18% of the world’s total freshwater and about 90% of the United States’ total freshwater. The Lakes are a series of five interconnecting large lakes, one small lake, four connecting channels, and the St. Lawrence Seaway. Combined, the lakes cover an area of over 94,000 square miles (245,000 square kilometers) and contain over 5,400 cubic miles (23,000 cubic kilometers) of water
*Retention/Replacement time: The amount of time it takes for lakes to get rid of pollutants.
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US Census Bureau. (September 30, 2011). Retention/replacement time of the Great Lakes (in years)* [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 30, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/204184/retention-replacement-time-of-the-largest-lakes-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau. "Retention/replacement time of the Great Lakes (in years)*." Chart. September 30, 2011. Statista. Accessed May 30, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/204184/retention-replacement-time-of-the-largest-lakes-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau. (2011). Retention/replacement time of the Great Lakes (in years)*. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 30, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/204184/retention-replacement-time-of-the-largest-lakes-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau. "Retention/Replacement Time of The Great Lakes (in Years)*." Statista, Statista Inc., 30 Sep 2011, https://www.statista.com/statistics/204184/retention-replacement-time-of-the-largest-lakes-in-the-us/
US Census Bureau, Retention/replacement time of the Great Lakes (in years)* Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/204184/retention-replacement-time-of-the-largest-lakes-in-the-us/ (last visited May 30, 2025)
Retention/replacement time of the Great Lakes (in years)* [Graph], US Census Bureau, September 30, 2011. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/204184/retention-replacement-time-of-the-largest-lakes-in-the-us/
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