The year is 2050. The Great Lakes Megalopolis is the most valuable region on Earth. Minneapolis – Milwaukee – Chicago – Indianapolis – Cincinnati – Detroit – Columbus – Cleveland – Pittsburgh – Toronto – Buffalo – Montreal • 20% of the world's surface fresh water • Urban centers with finance & tech hubs, and great universities • Ontario runs one of the largest nuclear fleets in the world, generating up to 60% of its electricity, with grid-scale SMRs being built ahead of schedule. Illinois leads the US in nuclear power, and Michigan is bringing reactors back online. • The region holds some of the largest untapped copper-nickel-cobalt-platinum-chromite deposits in the world, along with the gallium, indium, and graphite that China guards so jealously. • The densest industrial base in the Western Hemisphere: heavy machinery, metal refineries, steel, auto, batteries, and aerospace backed by a deep pool of suppliers/engineers/skilled trades. • Climate-resilient cities with municipal capacity that can absorb millions more.