Along America's northern frontier sprawls an aquatic kingdom spanning 94,600 square miles - the largest surface freshwater system on Earth. Encompassing Lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie and Ontario, this watery realm contains over 117 trillion gallons supplying 40 million people while supporting economies from Canada to Minnesota to New York.
Crack open an ice cold can of sparkling water and that first bracing sip tingles the tongue with prickly carbonation. Yet few ponder the beverage's rich backstory bubblescaping from natural springs into bottles globally today as beloved seltzer. This fizzy drink phenomenon in fact traces through spa towns, science labs and society itself revealing key innovations behind modern comforts we increasingly take for granted.