The African Great Lakes (Swahili: Maziwa Makuu) are a series of lakes constituting the part of the Rift Valley lakes in and around the East African Rift. They include Lake Victoria, the third largest fresh water lake in the world by area, and Lake Tanganyika, the world's second largest lake by volume and depth.

The large rift lakes of Africa are the ancient home of great biodiversity; 10 percent of the world's fish species are found there. Lakes Victoria, Tanganyika, and Malawi hold a quarter of the planet's freshwater supply.

Countries in the African Great Lakes region (sometimes also called Greater Lakes region) include Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

Catchments

The African Great Lakes are divided among three different catchments (river basins); a number, such as Lake Turkana, also have internal drainage systems. The following, in order of size from largest to smallest, are included on most lists of the African Great Lakes:

The Great Lakes (also called the Laurentian Great Lakes, or the Great Lakes of North America) are a series of interconnected freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada–United States border, which connect to the Atlantic Ocean through the Saint Lawrence River. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron (or Michigan–Huron), Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth, containing 21% of the world's surface fresh water by volume. The total surface is 94,250 square miles (244,106 km²), and the total volume (measured at the low water datum) is 5,439 cubic miles (22,671 km³). Due to their sea-like characteristics (rolling waves, sustained winds, strong currents, great depths, and distant horizons) the five Great Lakes have also long been referred to as inland seas. Lake Superior is the second largest lake in the world by area, and Lake Michigan is the largest lake that is entirely within one country. The southern half of the Great Lakes is surrounded by the Great Lakes Megalopolis.

The Great Lakes are a collection of large lakes in eastern North America.

Great Lakes or Great Lake may also refer to:

Lakes

Other uses

Great Lakes is one of two railroad stations in North Chicago Illinois, served by Metra's Union Pacific/North Line. The station is officially located at 3000 South Sheridan Road, is 32.2 miles (51.8 km) away from Ogilvie Transportation Center, the inbound terminus of the Union Pacific/North Line, and also serves commuters who travel north to Kenosha, Wisconsin. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Great Lakes is in zone G.

It is named for the Great Lakes Naval Training Base in North Chicago and the City of North Chicago.

Parking is available at the end of Ohio Avenue which leads from the southern terminus of the Amstutz Expressway. Like Waukegan Station, Great Lakes Station serves as a stop for the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Unlike Waukegan Station, however, the Naval training center surrounds much of Great Lakes Station, which is also located near the Shore Acres Country Club.

The connection to the Pace bus system has a boarding location near the main entrance to the naval station, it is also a location for taxi pick ups, and drop offs.