How many "Great Lakes" are there?

The Great Lakes consist of five distinct lakes located in North America, specifically along the border between the United States and Canada. These lakes are Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. Together, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world by total area and play a significant role in the ecology, economy, and culture of the region. The designation of "Great Lakes" refers specifically to these five bodies of water, which are interconnected and serve as crucial waterways for transportation and trade.

Understanding this is essential because the presence of just three, four, or even six lakes does not align with the recognized classification of the Great Lakes, which solidifies the choice of five as the only accurate answer to the question.