After months of brutally cold weather that smashed records across the Upper Midwest, the Great Lakes have been transformed into giant ice-covered ponds.
The Great Lakes, which hold nearly one-fifth of the surface fresh water in the world, are almost completely frozen over after an unusually cold winter.
The Mackinac Bridge, which connects Upper and Lower Michigan, spans an ice cover that stretches into the horizon on Feb. 11, 2014.
Traverse City Record-Eagle, Keith King Pool / AP
As of Thursday, nearly 90% of the lakes are under a cover of ice, according to the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.
The pier and lighthouse at Lake Michigan’s Little Traverse Bay at Petoskey, Mich., is surrounded by thick ice on Feb. 11, 2014.
AP
The last time they came this close to being completely frozen over was in 1994, when 94% of the lakes' surface was ice.
The ice covered St. Clair River is seen at the Canadian shoreline on Feb. 6, 2014.
AP
If the rate at which ice has been growing continues, an all-time record could be set later this month.
An aerial photo of Lake Huron looking south towards Port Huron, Mich. shows some open water on Feb. 6, 2014.
AP
