In the heart of North America lies a vast chain of inland seas whose depths contain more than one-fifth of the surface fresh water on the planet, the largest natural reservoir on an ever more thirsty Earth. We call these seas the Great Lakes.

The five connected bodies of water, which together form America’s fourth coast, have played a fundamental role in the history of the continent and, because their resources-rich basin became the heartland of American industrial might, the history of the world as well.

For the first time, American television audiences will get a close-up, in-depth look at this amazing natural phenomenon in a two-hour documentary, “Freshwater Seas: The Great Lakes,” a production of Detroit Public Television and independent filmmaker Lindsey Haskin. Shot entirely in 1080p high definition, the film will highlight the incredible beauty of the region, its dramatic history, and its critical importance to the continent and to the world.

The documentary comes at a crucial time in the history of the lakes. Thanks to Earth’s swelling population and shrinking natural resources, these freshwater seas are destined to play an increasingly important role on the world stage. The growing demand for water resources in the United States and elsewhere has heightened pressure to tap into what many refer to as the “OPEC of fresh water.”

And the Great Lakes are experiencing other, more immediate pressures. Over the past 150 years, a variety of human and natural factors drastically altered the ecosystem. A once-thriving commercial fishing industry all but disappeared as the result of human activity and destruction wrought by aquatic invasive species, challenges that also impact a multi-billion-dollar tourism industry based on recreational fishing and boating. Industrial and agricultural pollution and other forms of contamination undermined water quality, threatening drinking water supplies and therefore the health of the 40 million people who live in the region.

The program will examine how the looming threats of climate change and water diversions might impact the region in the future. Viewers will see how scientists, citizens, and public officials throughout the Great Lakes basin are striving to enhance its economic vitality while confronting the challenge of restoring and protecting one of Earth’s unique natural treasures.

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