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These 15 Majestic Photographs Showcase the Beauty of the Great Lakes and Will Make You Fall in Love With the Natural Wonders

The images of Lakes Huron, Erie, Superior, Michigan and Ontario are pulled from submissions to the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

Sunset over a lake
Sunset over a lake
The sun sets behind the hills of Duluth, Minnesota, creating a warm glow on the shimmering surface of Lake Superior. Brittany Borgan, Minnesota, 2025

These 15 Majestic Photographs Showcase the Beauty of the Great Lakes and Will Make You Fall in Love With the Natural Wonders

The images of Lakes Huron, Erie, Superior, Michigan and Ontario are pulled from submissions to the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest

Photographs selected by Allison Scates

Sunset over a lake
The sun sets behind the hills of Duluth, Minnesota, creating a warm glow on the shimmering surface of Lake Superior. Brittany Borgan, Minnesota, 2025

Not just any body of water can be deemed a great lake. The five Sweetwater Seas comprise the world's largest surface freshwater system. Like oceans, their salty counterparts, the lakes are known for their massive volume, deep basins and violent storm capabilities, yet they’re distinct from oceans because of their relatively low tides and reliance on land-based precipitation, not marine circulation. Clustered in the Midwest region of the United States and extending into parts of Canada, the Great Lakes and its surrounding basin are home to 30 million people. See for yourself.

Green sky with a tree by a lake
An unobstructed perch on the shores of Lake Superior is the perfect location to enjoy an aurora show. Cameron Wilcox, Michigan, 2024
A lone duck stands peacefully on a concrete barrier
A lone duck stands peacefully on a concrete barrier, gazing out over Lake Ontario at the horizon. Oleksii Derevianko, Canada, 2024
A lodge next to Lake Superior at sunset
The Lutsen Lodge was once a landmark along the shores of Lake Superior. Theodore Sadler, Minnesota, 2023
boulders break the still surface of Lake Michigan
Scattered boulders break the still surface of Lake Michigan. Valleri Ames, Michigan, 2025
Sunrise over Lake Superior
Sunlight breaks through the clouds above Lake Superior, resulting in a fiery glow in the sky. Evan Cooley, Michigan, 2021
A lightning bolt pierces the clouds, reaching into the water of Lake Erie.
A lightning bolt pierces the clouds, reaching into the water of Lake Erie.  Steven Easton, Canada, 2010
Sunset by Lake Michigan
Various tree species thrive in the sandy, wet soil on Lake Michigan’s Foster Avenue Beach. Kevin Dephillips, Illinois, 2025
2 Red-necked grebes sit next to Lake Ontario one laying an egg
Red-necked grebes nest on the shores of Lake Ontario, and one lays a pale blue egg. Yan Zhang, Canada, 2024
Sunset over Lake Huron
Georgian Bay in Ontario, Canada, is part of Lake Huron, half of which flows through Michigan. Water close to the shore freezes every winter, and when the ice eventually breaks up and melts, it forms floes. Zhenhuan Zhou, Canada, 2022
The northern lights put on a spectacular show above Lake Erie.
The northern lights put on a spectacular show above Lake Erie. Dawn Wilson, Ohio, 2024
A frozen Lake Ontario
Resembling lily pads, sheets of broken ice dot Lake Ontario’s frigid surface. Sylvia Johnson, Canada, 2025
The evening sky above Lake Huron
The evening sky above Lake Huron boasts gold, copper and bronze colors as the sunlight peeks through clouds before setting. Kathy Canada, Michigan, 2024
northern lights dance in the sky above Lake Michigan
The iridescent northern lights dance in the sky above Lake Michigan as a silhouetted figure takes in the view. Cameron Wilcox, Michigan, 2024
A billowing cloud hovers above Lake Erie.
A billowing cloud hovers above Lake Erie. L.E. “Skip” Bradley, Ohio, 2008

Tracy Scott Forson is a senior editor at Smithsonian magazine.

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