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Downbound St. Mary’s River, Detour, Michigan. aa THE GREAT LAKES AREA —J The Great Lakes area, bounded gen- erally on the north by Canada and on the south by the United States, contains probably the greatest industrial complex of the world. steel plants here producing more than 30% of the world’s extensive agricultural areas have pro- duced vast harvests of grain which have ent also in considerable volume. With an area of about 1,200,000 square miles (one-sixth of North Amer- ica) and a population of about 65 million (slightly less than one-third the com- bined United States-Canadian popula- tion), it produces about 78 percent of the North American steel, adds half the value of its manufactures and produces more ey an of its oe and fee size, but the smaller ones are tending to disappear from the system, outmoded by the large-size ships, many of which are as much as Bi feet in length with a 105- foot be These latge ships can carry cargoes of up to 60,000 tons of iron ore or 1,700,000 bushels of grain. Many of the world’s largest Merchant ships come into the Lakes by means of the Seaway. Some of these vessels ex- ceed 550 feet in length and can carry a cargo of over 24,000 tons into or out of the Great Lakes. The construction of large locks and the deepening of channels a Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan to Montreal, Quebec on the world’s longest sy has brought ships of all nations to our doorsteps. From the heartland of America to the heartland of the World, we dedicate this book.