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Get ready to dive in to Great Lakes Awareness Day on May 6! This is a truly special day devoted to the vast and incredible bodies of freshwater known as the Great Lakes. Covering a whopping 94,250 square miles, these lakes, Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, collectively house 21% of the world's surface freshwater. First recognized in 2006 by a small group of Michigan educators to increase awareness about the lakes' importance and benefits, the day has since grown in reach and significance. Today is all about gaining more knowledge, appreciating the beauty and immeasurable value of our Great Lakes, and understanding the need to preserve them for future generations.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1800s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Great Lakes Exploration</div><div class='timeline-text'>In the 19th century, explorers and settlers charted the Great Lakes, leading to increased awareness of their size and importance.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1968</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Water Quality Act</div><div class='timeline-text'>The US Congress passed the Federal Water Quality Act in response to water pollution in bodies such as the Great Lakes.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1972</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement</div><div class='timeline-text'>The United States and Canada signed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement aiming to protect the water quality in the Great Lakes.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1987</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Great Lakes Restoration Initiative</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative was launched to accelerate efforts to protect and restore the lakes.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2006</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Great Lakes Awareness Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>Great Lakes Awareness Day is first recognized by a small group of Michigan educators to increase awareness about the importance of the lakes.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2019</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Expansion of Restoration Efforts</div><div class='timeline-text'>Government and private funds increased, expanding restoration efforts and studies on the impact of climate change on the Great Lakes.</div></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Organize a beach cleanup</h3><p class='facts-text'>Get a group together and head to one of the many beautiful beaches along the Great Lakes for a cleanup day. Not only is it a great way to appreciate the lakes, but it's also a hands-on way of preserving them.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Take a boat tour</h3><p class='facts-text'>Board a guided boat tour to get up close and personal with these majestic lakes. The tour guide will likely offer interesting facts and stories about the historical significance, ecology, and geology of the lakes.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Attend a lecture or workshop</h3><p class='facts-text'>Look for events at local educational institutions or nature centers that offer further learning about this precious ecosystem. This could be a lecture, workshop, or even a documentary screening. Knowledge is power!</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Create art inspired by the Great Lakes</h3><p class='facts-text'>Indulge your artistic side by making something beautiful inspired by the Great Lakes. This could be painting, photography, sculpting or even writing a poem or song. Share it online to spread the love.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Go bird watching</h3><p class='facts-text'>The Great Lakes region is a major flyway for migratory birds, providing fantastic opportunities for birding. Spend the day bird-watching and appreciate another aspect of the ecosystem that relies on these great bodies of water.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Fosters a Connection with Nature</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Great Lakes Awareness Day brings attention to the natural majesty of the Great Lakes, encouraging people to engage with the environment in meaningful ways such as beach cleanups, bird-watching or creating art inspired by the lakes' beauty. This fosters a greater appreciation for and connection to the natural world.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Encourages Learning</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>With opportunities to attend educational workshops or lectures and going on guided boat tours, Great Lakes Awareness Day encourages learning about the historical, ecological, and geological significance of the lakes. This kind of learning helps in understanding and appreciating the importance of preserving such ecosystems.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Promotes Conservation Efforts</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Great Lakes Awareness Day not only spotlights the stunning beauty of these bodies of freshwater but also their fragility. By participating in direct conservation efforts such as organizing a beach cleanup, we can play a role in protecting these vital ecosystems for future generations. This day promotes the importance of individual and collective efforts in environmental conservation.</p></div></div>
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