Great Lakes of North America: Trivia Quiz with Answers

Feb 6, 2026, 04:34 EDT

Test your Great Lakes knowledge with this trivia quiz, facts, depths, records. Challenge yourself with GK questions on Great Lakes and answers on these massive North American freshwater wonders.

The Great Lakes comprise five individual lakes which make one combined fresh-water system. Of the total number of lakes, four share borders with both Canada and the U.S., which are: Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. Lake Michigan, however, is the only one totally within the U.S.

Great Lakes of North America Trivia Quiz is designed as a fun challenge of your knowledge of the world's largest body of fresh water. Taking quizzing activities helps you improve your memory, expands your geographical skills in preparation for U.S citizenship exams, and provides information for fun facts sharing.

These lakes are connected with the Atlantic Ocean through the St. Mary and Niagara rivers. According to the Great Lakes Commission, they have an economy valued at $60 trillion. Challenge yourself with GK questions on Great Lakes and answers on these massive North American freshwater wonders.

How well do you know the Great Lakes of North America?

Great Lakes, which carry 21 percent of the surface freshwater of the Earth, cover 94,250 square miles and include U.S. states and Canada. After the Ice Age, glaciers carved these lakes about 10,000 years ago. 

This GK quiz on Great Lakes offers true/false and multiple-choice questions on sizes, records, and facts of the lakes, making it useful for U.S. history classes.

Question 1: Which Great Lake is the largest by surface area?

A) Lake Erie

B) Lake Superior

C) Lake Huron

D) Lake Ontario

Question 2: True or False: Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake entirely in the United States.

A) True

B) False

Question 3: What is the deepest Great Lake?

A) Lake Huron

B) Lake Erie

C) Lake Superior

D) Lake Michigan

Question 4: Which lake has the most islands?

A) Lake Michigan

B) Lake Ontario

C) Lake Huron

D) Lake Superior

Question 5: True or False: The Great Lakes contain 21% of the world's surface freshwater.

A) False

B) True

Question 6: Lake Erie is the shallowest—its average depth is about how many feet?

A) 62 feet

B) 195 feet

C) 279 feet

D) 483 feet

Question 7: Which two Great Lakes are hydrologically one body of water?

A) Superior and Michigan

B) Huron and Erie

C) Michigan and Huron

D) Erie and Ontario

Question 8: What percentage of the U.S. population lives in the Great Lakes basin?

A) 10%

B) 15%

C) 25%

D) 32%

Question 9: True or False: The Great Lakes were formed by ancient volcanoes.

A) False

B) True

Question 10: Which Great Lake borders eight U.S. states?

A) Lake Superior

B) Lake Michigan

C) Lake Huron

D) None—Superior borders 4

Check Facts About the Great Lakes of North America here.

Great Lakes of North America Quiz Answers

Check your score and learn with these explanations.

Question 1: B) Lake Superior. It spans 31,700 square miles, bigger than three New England states combined.

Question 2: A) True. Michigan lies wholly in four states: Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin.

Question 3: C) Lake Superior. Max depth 1,333 feet, deeper than Lake Tahoe.

Question 4: C) Lake Huron. Over 30,000 islands dot its Georgian Bay area.

Question 5: B) True. They hold 5,439 cubic miles, surpassing all other lakes combined.

Question 6: A) 62 feet. Shallowest allows quick warming but pollution sensitivity.

Question 7: C) Michigan and Huron. Straits of Mackinac link them as one hydrological lake.

Question 8: A) 10%. According to EPA, roughly 10% or 30 million Americans rely on them for water, jobs.

Question 9: A) False. Glaciers carved basins 14,000 years ago post-Ice Age.

Question 10: D) None—Superior borders 4. Michigan borders 4 states but no Canada.

Solve this U.S. Currency Trivia Quiz with Answers!

Conclusion

The Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, play a critical role as North America's freshwater heart. Beating the trivia means appreciating the wonders of geography and the U.S. natural might. 

How did you do? Placed high? Share the results with others and challenge them to beat your Great Lakes quiz high!

Alisha Louis is a US Content Specialist with a Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication (BJMC) graduate degree. With over 3 years of experience and a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she specializes in covering trending news and educational developments across the United States. Her articles combine journalistic POV with engaging narratives, making complex topics accessible and relevant for global audiences. Dedicated to delivering timely and trustworthy content, Alisha brings a fresh, insightful perspective to every piece she writes.

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