The Great Lakes comprise the largest collective body of fresh water on the planet, containing roughly 18 percent of Earth’s supply. Only the polar ice caps contain more fresh water. The region around the Great Lakes basin is home to more than 10 percent of the population of the United States and 25 percent of the population of Canada.  The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this scene at 1:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time on August 28, 2010.  The scene depicts a truly rare cloud-free morning with all of the lakes visible at once.

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