The punishing, sub-zero temperatures recorded around the Great Lakes region has resulted in substantial ice coverage this winter, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which reports that ice covered 87 per cent of the five lakes, as of Feb. 11, 2014.

Record ice levels were recorded in 1979 when 97 per cent of the water across the five lakes turned to ice. The NASA satellite photographs below show the Great Lakes region on January 6 of 2013 and 2014. Move the arrows from side to side in the photos below to see more.

NASA Worldview