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Although several other large lakes and islands make up part of the Great Lakes System. They drain through the [[Saint Lawrence river]] into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. In 1959 the Saint Lawrence Seaway opened the Great Lakes to Ocean going boats, allowing travel well into the heart of North America. Although the Great Lakes themselves had been connected before this with a series of canals.
Since 1909 the United States and Canada have cooperated on the management and control of lake water with the International Joint Commission (IJC). At [[Niagara Falls]], as much as 60% of the water is diverted for [[Hydro-electric power]] generation for [[Ontario]] and [[New York State]].
Because of the large size of the lakes many of the larger cities experience lake effect snow, where westerly winds capture moisture over the unfrozen lakes and when cooled over the land, heavy snows can fall. Additionally the lakes can moderate the warm temperatures in the summer, and release the heat in the fall.
