What portion of the world's freshwater is held by the Great Lakes?

What portion of the world's freshwater is held by the Great Lakes?

• A. 1/10
• B. 1/4
• C. 1/5
• D. 1/3

Answer: (C)

The Great Lakes, which are made up of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario, contain approximately 20% of the world's freshwater supply. This significant volume is crucial for both ecological balance and human needs in the region surrounding the lakes. Given that 20% can be mathematically represented as 1/5 when comparing it to the whole, this makes 1/5 the correct portion of the world's freshwater that is held by the Great Lakes. In contrast, 1/4 (or 25%) and 1/3 (approximately 33.3%) are both larger portions than what is accurate for the Great Lakes' contribution to the global freshwater supply, while 1/10 (or 10%) is too small. The choice of 1/5 accurately reflects the significance of the Great Lakes as a major freshwater resource on Earth.

The Great Lakes, which are made up of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario, contain approximately 20% of the world's freshwater supply. This significant volume is crucial for both ecological balance and human needs in the region surrounding the lakes. Given that 20% can be mathematically represented as 1/5 when comparing it to the whole, this makes 1/5 the correct portion of the world's freshwater that is held by the Great Lakes.

In contrast, 1/4 (or 25%) and 1/3 (approximately 33.3%) are both larger portions than what is accurate for the Great Lakes' contribution to the global freshwater supply, while 1/10 (or 10%) is too small. The choice of 1/5 accurately reflects the significance of the Great Lakes as a major freshwater resource on Earth.