Where are the Great Lakes?
Quick answer: Between Ontario and the United States. In our practice tests 84% of 103 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “Manitoba”.
Why is this the correct answer?
The Great Lakes — Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario — are located between the province of Ontario and the United States. They form the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world.
Study Tip
The Great Lakes are a series of large freshwater lakes located along the border between Canada and the United States. Think of a province that shares a border with the US.
What should you know about this topic?
The Great Lakes lie along the border between Ontario and the United States. There are five Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario. Four of them are shared by Canada and the United States, while Lake Michigan lies entirely within the United States. Together they form one of the largest fresh-water systems in the world.
The Great Lakes are connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the St. Lawrence River. Discover Canada explains that the St. Lawrence Seaway, opened in 1959, allows ocean-going ships to travel from the Atlantic deep into the heart of North America. This waterway made Central Canada a major centre of trade, transportation and manufacturing. Cities such as Toronto, Hamilton and Windsor grew along the shores of the lakes.
The lakes also played a part in Canadian history. During the War of 1812, battles were fought on and around the Great Lakes as the United States invaded Canada and was pushed back by British, Canadian and First Nations forces. Today, Ontario, home to more than one-third of Canadians, depends on the lakes for drinking water, shipping, fishing and tourism. Related test topics include Central Canada, the St. Lawrence River, Niagara Falls and the War of 1812. Niagara Falls, between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, is one of Canada's best-known natural wonders and attracts millions of visitors each year. The lakes also link to cities like Thunder Bay at the western end of Lake Superior.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- Manitoba: Manitoba has big lakes, including Lake Winnipeg, but none of the Great Lakes are there.
- Atlantic Canada: Atlantic Canada borders the Atlantic Ocean. The Great Lakes connect to the Atlantic through the St. Lawrence River, but they are far inland.
- Northern Quebec: Northern Quebec has many rivers and lakes and large hydroelectric projects, but the Great Lakes are farther south and west, along Ontario's border.
What is the most common mistake?
Some learners place the Great Lakes in Manitoba because Manitoba has many large lakes, such as Lake Winnipeg. The Great Lakes are on the Ontario-U.S. border.
How can you remember the answer?
Remember HOMES for the lakes (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior) and think of Ontario as their Canadian home.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
84% of 103 practice answers from about 73 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "Manitoba", chosen 6% of the time. The data covers practice tests on BecomeACitizen.ca from March 31, 2026 to September 30, 2026.
How hard is this question compared with others?
It is the 64th easiest of the 167 questions we have enough data to rank. The average for the Canada's Regions chapter is 78% correct, and the average across all questions is 75%. You need 75% to pass the real test.
These are practice questions written from the official Discover Canada guide. IRCC does not publish the real test questions. See the full ranking in the 20 most-missed citizenship test questions or browse more Canada's Regions questions.
Practice This Chapter
Test yourself with questions from Canada's Regions. Timed mock tests, instant scoring, and detailed explanations.
Which part of Discover Canada is this question from?
This question is from the Canada's Regions section of the Canadian citizenship test. The test consists of 20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official Discover Canada study guide. You need to score at least 75% (15 out of 20 correct) to pass.
This chapter has 35 questions in our database. Studying chapter by chapter is one of the most effective ways to prepare, as it helps you build deep understanding of each topic before moving to the next.
How should you study for the citizenship test?
Start by reading the complete how-to-pass guide, then work through each chapter in the study mode. When you feel ready, take a full exam simulation with the real 45-minute time limit.