Swept by tumultuous storms and traversed by fleets of oceangoing
tankers, the interconnected Great Lakes form the largest body of
fresh water in the world; Lake Superior alone is more than three
hundred miles from east to west. The shores of these inland seas
can rival any coastline: Superior and the northern reaches of
Lake Michigan offer stunning rocky peninsulas, craggy cliffs,
tree-covered islands, mammoth dunes and deserted beaches.
However, for lengthy stretches along Lake Erie, and the bottom
lips of lakes Michigan and Huron, sluggish waters lap against
large cities and decaying ports. To varying degrees, the
principal states that line the American side of the lakes –
Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota –
share this mixture of natural beauty and ageing industry. Cities
such as Chicago and Detroit, for all their pros and cons, do not
characterize the entire region, although the former’s
magnificent architecture, museums, music and restaurants make it
a worthy destination. Within t