Lake Erie is the fourth-largest of the five Great Lakes in North America by surface area and the eleventh-largest lake in the world. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume among the Great Lakes. It also has the shortest average time that water stays in the lake. The deepest part of Lake Erie is 210 feet (64 meters) deep, making it the only Great Lake whose deepest point is above sea level.

Lake Erie lies along the border between Canada and the United States. Its northern shore is in the Canadian province of Ontario, specifically on the Ontario Peninsula. The U.S. states of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York are located along its western, southern, and eastern shores. These regions share the lake’s surface area through defined water boundaries. The largest city on Lake Erie is Cleveland, which is part of the third-largest U.S. metropolitan area in the Great Lakes region, following Greater Chicago and Metro Detroit. Other major cities along the lake include Buffalo, New York; Erie, Pennsylvania; and Toledo, Ohio.

Lake Erie is located below Lake Huron, and its main entrance is the Detroit River. The primary natural way water leaves the lake is through the Niagara River, which generates electricity for Canada and the United States by powering large turbines near Niagara Falls in Lewiston, New York, and Queenston, Ontario. Some water also flows out through the Welland Canal, part of the Saint Lawrence Seaway. This canal allows ships to travel from Port Colborne, Ontario, on Lake Erie, to St. Catharines on Lake Ontario, overcoming an elevation change of 326 feet (99 meters). For many years, the health of Lake Erie has been a concern due to problems such as overfishing, pollution, algae growth, invasive species, and excess nutrients in the water.

Etymology

Lake Erie was first shown on maps as Lac du Chat as early as 1650. Around 1670, René de Bréhant de Galinée wrote the name of the lake as Lac Érié. The word "Erie" comes from the Iroquoian word erielhonan, which means "long tail."

Geography

Lake Erie is located at 42.2° N, 81.2° W. Its average height above sea level is 571 feet (174 meters). The lake covers an area of 9,910 square miles (25,667 square kilometers). It is 241 statute miles (388 kilometers) long and 57 statute miles (92 kilometers) wide at its widest points. Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes, with an average depth of 63 feet (19 meters) and a maximum depth of 210 feet (64 meters). Because it is shallow, Lake Erie is the warmest of the Great Lakes. In 1999, warm summer temperatures brought lake water close to 85°F (29°C), which nearly caused problems for two nuclear power plants that rely on cool lake water. Lake Erie also freezes first in winter. The western part of the lake is the shallowest, with depths averaging 25 to 30 feet (7.6 to 9.1 meters). This shallow area can create large waves quickly, known as seiches. The area around Lake Erie is called the "thunderstorm capital of Canada" because of frequent lightning. Sudden waves have sometimes caused rescues, such as when a Cleveland resident was trapped by strong waves near a dock and was saved by a diver from Avon Lake, Ohio, in 2004.

Lake Erie receives water mainly from the Detroit River, which flows from Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair. It drains into Lake Ontario through the Niagara River and Niagara Falls. The Welland Canal, part of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, allows ships to move downstream. Other rivers that contribute water to Lake Erie include the Grand River, Huron River, Maumee River, Sandusky River, Cuyahoga River, and Buffalo River. The lake’s drainage basin covers 30,140 square miles (78,100 square kilometers).

Point Pelee National Park, the southernmost point of the Canadian mainland, is located on a peninsula that extends into Lake Erie. The lake has 31 islands, 13 in Canada and 18 in the United States, mostly on the western side. The largest island is Pelee Island.

Lake Erie has a lake retention time of 2.6 years, the shortest of all the Great Lakes. Its water levels change with the seasons, like the other Great Lakes. Levels are usually lowest in January and February and highest in June or July, though exceptions occur. Long-term changes depend on rainfall. Short-term changes often happen because of seiches, which are large waves caused by strong winds. These waves can cause water to pile up on one side of the lake. During a storm in November 2003, water levels in Buffalo rose by 7 feet (2.1 meters), with waves reaching 10–15 feet (3.0–4.6 meters). At the same time, water levels dropped sharply in Toledo, on the opposite side of the lake.

• Historic High Water: In the summer of 1986, Lake Erie reached its highest level, 5.08 feet (1.55 meters) above the standard measurement. This record occurred from April 1986 to January 1987, with levels ranging from 4.33 to 5.08 feet (1.32 to 1.55 meters) above the standard.
• Historic Low Water: In the winter of 1934, Lake Erie reached its lowest level, 1.5 feet (0.46 meters) below the standard. This record occurred from July 1934 to June 1935, with levels ranging from 1.5 feet (0.46 meters) below the standard to the standard level.

Geology

Lake Erie was shaped by ice from glaciers and went through many changes before becoming its current form, which is less than 4,000 years old. This is a short time in geological history. Before this, the land where the lake now exists went through several complex stages. A large lowland basin formed over two million years ago due to a river that flowed east and existed long before the Pleistocene ice ages. This ancient river system was destroyed by the first major glacier in the area, which also deepened and enlarged the lowland areas, allowing water to collect and form a lake. The glaciers carved more land on the eastern side of the basin because the bedrock there is shale, which is softer than the carbonate rocks like dolomite and limestone on the western side. As a result, the eastern and central basins of modern Lake Erie are much deeper than the western basin, which averages only 25 feet (7.6 m) deep and is rich in nutrients and fish. Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes because the ice was relatively thin and lacked the power to erode the land as much when it reached that far south, according to one view.

As many as three glaciers advanced and retreated over the land, creating temporary lakes between each movement (see: Lake Whittlesey, Lake Maumee, and Lake Arkona). Each lake had a different amount of water, so their shorelines were at different elevations. The last lake to form, Lake Warren, existed between about 13,000 and 12,000 years ago. It was deeper than the current Lake Erie, and its shoreline was about eight miles (13 km) inland from the modern one. Early Lake Erie went through many changes, and evidence of ancient sand dunes can still be seen in the Oak Openings Region in Northwest Ohio. There, the sandy soil from the dry lake bed was not enough to support large trees, except for a few types of oaks, forming a rare oak savanna.

History

At the time Europeans arrived, several Indigenous groups lived near the eastern end of the lake. The Erie tribe, after whom the lake is named, lived along the southern shore, while the Neutrals (also called Attawandaron) lived along the northern shore. The name "Erie" comes from the Iroquoian word "erielhonan," which means "long tail," or possibly from "eri," meaning "cherry tree." Near Port Stanley, an Indigenous village called Southwold Earthworks from the 16th century once housed up to 800 Neutral people. Archaeologists have found double earth walls surrounding the area. Europeans called the Neutrals "Neutral Indians" because they avoided fighting with other tribes.

Both the Erie and Neutrals were taken over by the Iroquois Confederacy, their eastern neighbors, between 1651 and 1657 during the Beaver Wars. After these wars, the Iroquois used the land around eastern Lake Erie as a hunting area for many years. As the Iroquois lost power in the late 1600s, the Anishinaabe people moved into the area on the lake’s northern shore. A story tells of an Indigenous woman named Huldah who jumped from a high rock on Pelee Island after losing her British lover.

In 1669, French explorer Louis Jolliet was the first recorded European to see Lake Erie, though some believe Étienne Brûlé may have encountered it earlier in 1615. Europeans explored Lake Erie last among the Great Lakes because the Iroquois, who controlled the Niagara River, blocked French explorers. Explorers instead traveled by river from Lake Ontario to Lake Huron. British officials worried about American settlers expanding across Lake Erie, so Colonel Thomas Talbot created the Talbot Trail in 1809 to encourage settlement. He brought settlers from Ireland and Scotland, and many places in southern Ontario, like Port Talbot and Talbotville, are named after him.

During the War of 1812, American naval forces led by Oliver Hazard Perry defeated a smaller British fleet near Put-in-Bay, Ohio, in 1813. American troops also attacked areas near Port Rowan, burning towns and villages. Generally, the U.S. and Canada have had peaceful relations, with an agreement to keep warships away from the Great Lakes.

In 1837, the Lower Canada Rebellion occurred, focusing on political changes and land issues. Some rebels crossed the ice from Sandusky Bay to Pelee Island, but the islanders had already left. Later, rebels fought the Royal 32nd Regiment on the ice and were forced to retreat.

By the 1850s, settlers established commercial fisheries on Lake Erie’s northern coast. Railways expanded around 1852, connecting areas around the lake. Maritime traffic grew, but the lake was often closed to shipping from December to April due to ice. Since slavery was banned in Canada in 1833 but still legal in the U.S., some escaped slaves crossed Lake Erie to reach freedom.

Before modern weather forecasts, ships often faced dangerous storms on Lake Erie. In 1868, a ship captain named John Steiner described seeing a sunken vessel with three men clinging to its mast during a storm. In 1857, a balloonist named John Steiner made a trip across the lake, reported in The New York Times.

In 1885, strong winds caused Lake Erie’s water levels to drop by as much as two feet, making it hard for ships to load cargo in ports like Toledo. Throughout its history, the lake’s fishery has faced challenges from competing interests.

By 1895, concerns about overfishing were raised, but the fishery survived despite pollution, invasive species, and other issues. Governments later took greater responsibility for managing the lake. In 1901, the Carnegie Company planned a new harbor near Erie, Pennsylvania. A memorial to Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry was built on Put-in-Bay Island in 1913.

Steamships operated on Lake Erie since the early 1800s. Large cruise ships carried passengers between cities like Detroit and Cleveland until the rise of automobiles in the 1950s reduced demand. The Detroit and Cleveland Navigation Company was one of the most famous operators.

During Prohibition (1919–1933), alcohol and bodies from mobsters were often found on Lake Erie. Rum runners like Thomas Joseph McGinty and the Purple Gang smuggled alcohol, and a casino operated on Middle Island. The Coast Guard tried to stop this with its Rum Patrol.

In the 20th century, commercial fishing and manufacturing grew around the lake, but rivers were sometimes used to dump untreated sewage into the lake. A 1969 Time magazine report called the lake a "gigantic cesspool" because only three of 62 beaches were safe for swimming.

By 1975, the blue pike, a popular fish, was declared extinct, though this may have been incorrect. By the 1980s, about 130 fishing boats and 3,000 workers were involved in commercial fishing, but the industry declined rapidly, especially in the U.S.

In 2005, the Great Lakes states and Canadian provinces agreed to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Compact. Signed by President George W. Bush in 2008, the agreement aims to protect water resources and prevent water from being moved to distant areas. While supported by many, it is unpopular in some U.S. states due to droughts and water shortages.

Lake environment

Lake Erie, like the other Great Lakes, creates lake-effect snow when cold winter winds blow over its warm water. This happens when the temperature difference between the lake’s warm surface and the colder air is at least 18°F (10°C) to 23°F (13°C).

Heavy snowfalls from this process occur when cold air moves over a large, unfrozen lake for 60 miles (97 km) or more. Buffalo and Erie are the 11th and 13th snowiest cities in the lower 48 states, according to data from the National Climatic Data Center. Since winds typically blow west to east along the lake, snowstorms are strongest on the eastern side. Buffalo usually receives about 95 inches (240 cm) of snow each winter, sometimes up to 10 feet (3.0 m). Syracuse, New York, is the snowiest city, receiving heavy snow from both lake-effect processes and large storms. In 2001, a storm dropped 7 feet (2.1 m) of snow on Buffalo.

When Lake Erie freezes, the warming effect of the water is reduced. In January 2011, Cleveland residents were happy when the lake was “90 percent frozen,” as it meant fewer snowfalls. Lake Erie freezes often because it is the shallowest of the Great Lakes. In contrast, Lake Michigan has never completely frozen, though it came close during three harsh winters in the past century. In earlier years, ice was thick enough for people to drive over it or sail on iceboats. Some residents use the ice to travel to Canada.

Strong winds can shift sediment on the lake bottom, creating sandbars that have caused shipwrecks. However, winds also have other uses. Proposals to place wind turbines in windy, shallow areas of the lake and along the coast have been made. An urban wind farm in Buffalo, called Steel Winds, has 14 turbines that can generate up to 35 megawatts of electricity. A plan by Samsung to build an offshore wind farm on Lake Erie’s north shore faced opposition from residents who worried about spoiled views. Similar opposition occurred for plans in Pigeon Bay. Concerns also include the possible harm to bird and bat migration.

Lake Erie influences local climates, which help agriculture. Along its northern shore, Canada has one of its richest areas for fruit and vegetable production, with Leamington known as Canada’s “tomato capital.” Near Port Rowan, the lake’s effect on temperature allows trees like tulip trees and dogwood to grow. Greenhouses in the area grow tropical plants not usually found so far north, such as cacti. Along the southeastern shore of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, grapes are grown, as are the islands in the lake. Apple orchards are common in northeast Ohio and western New York.

Each year, about 34 to 36 inches (860 to 910 mm) of water evaporates from Lake Erie’s surface, contributing to rainfall in surrounding areas. Reports about global warming’s effects on the Great Lakes are mixed. Some suggest climate change increases evaporation, leading to warmer temperatures and less ice in winter. This has raised concerns that Lake Erie might shrink or become a muddy puddle. In 2010, the lake reached a record temperature of 81°F (27°C), compared to a bathtub.

Lake Erie has a complex ecosystem with many species interacting. Human activities, like pollution and ship traffic, can harm this environment. Invasive species sometimes help, but more often cause harm. For example, Pacific salmon were introduced and have been beneficial. However, mass fish deaths, like those of rainbow smelt in 2010, sometimes occur without clear reasons.

Lake Erie has faced many invasive species, including zebra and quagga mussels, gobies, and grass carp. These species have traveled in ballast water from international ships. Zebra mussels and gobies have helped increase the population of smallmouth bass. In 2008, concerns arose about a new invader, the bloody-red shrimp, possibly harming fish and causing algal blooms.

Scientists study Lake Erie using places like the Franz Theodore Stone Laboratory on Gibraltar Island, established in 1895. The lab, now part of Ohio State University, helps research the lake’s environment. Experts at the University of Windsor also study issues like pollution and contaminants such as phosphorus.

Other invasive species in Lake Erie include spiny and fishhook water fleas, sea lamprey, and white perch. Invasive plants include Eurasian milfoil, Trapa natans, and purple loosestrife. The lake’s shore also has invasive reeds from the Phragmites genus.

A major concern is eutrophication, where excess nutrients from fertilizers and waste cause plants to grow uncontrollably. Fewer wetlands and more channelized waterways allow nutrients to enter the lake, leading to algal blooms. These blooms, caused by toxic blue-green algae, create low-oxygen dead zones. Scientists study these blooms to predict when and where they occur. This problem was severe in the 1960s

Economy

Lake Erie is home to one of the largest freshwater commercial fisheries in the world. The lake has the most fish of any Great Lake, partly because it has mild temperatures and a lot of plankton, which is the foundation of the food chain. Fish in Lake Erie make up about half of all fish in the Great Lakes. The lake has many types of fish, including steelhead, walleye (called pickerel in Canada), largemouth and smallmouth bass, perch, lake trout, king salmon, whitefish, smelt, and others. The lake also has many non-native fish species, such as rainbow smelt, alewife, white perch, and common carp. Non-native fish like rainbow trout and brown trout are added to the lake for sport fishing. Efforts to add coho salmon failed, and their numbers have decreased. Commercial fishing mainly catches yellow perch and walleye, with smaller amounts of rainbow smelt and white bass. Anglers often fish for walleye and yellow perch, and some also fish for rainbow trout.

Before the late 1950s, the most common commercial fish in Lake Erie was a type of walleye called blue walleye (Sander vitreus glaucus), sometimes called "blue pike." In the 1970s and 1980s, as pollution in the lake decreased, the number of walleye caught increased from 112,000 in 1975 to 4.1 million in 1985. Scientists estimated there were about 33 million walleye in the lake, many weighing 8 pounds or more. However, overfishing and pollution caused the walleye population to drop. By the mid-1980s, the blue walleye was declared extinct, but Lake Erie walleye numbers were high in 1989.

Concerns about mercury levels in walleye have been raised. A study by the Canadian Ministry of the Environment found mercury levels were increasing but still within safe limits set by Pennsylvania authorities. Because of worries about PCBs, people were advised to eat no more than one walleye meal per month. In 1990, the National Wildlife Federation considered issuing a warning about eating walleye and smallmouth bass, which were important to an $800 million commercial fishing industry.

The longest fish in Lake Erie is the sturgeon, which can grow to 10 feet long and weigh 300 pounds. However, sturgeon are endangered and mostly live on the lake bottom. In 2009, a sturgeon was caught and released alive, and there are hopes its population is recovering.

Estimates of the fishing market in the Great Lakes vary. In 2007, one report said the total market for fishing (including commercial and recreational) was $4 billion annually, while another estimated over $7 billion. However, pollution discovered in the 1960s and 1970s led to debates about how much commercial fishing should occur. Pollution and government rules limiting catches have hurt Lake Erie’s commercial fishing. Reports say the number of fishing boats and workers has dropped by two-thirds in recent decades.

U.S. fishermen along Lake Erie have lost their livelihoods, no longer catching fish like whitefish for markets in New York. Pennsylvania once used a special $3 stamp on fishing licenses to help compensate commercial fishermen, but the program ended after five years. Some blamed the decline in commercial fishing on conflicts between commercial and recreational fishermen, with one side wanting large catches and the other fearing the lake would be overfished.

Today, commercial fishing is mostly done in Canadian communities, with a smaller fishery in Ohio focused mainly on yellow perch. The Ontario fishery is one of the most carefully managed in the world. However, some Canadian fishermen are unhappy with fishing limits and have sued the government. They claim the group setting quotas is influenced by the U.S. and favors sport fishing over commercial fishing. In 2007, fishing limits for some species were cut by 30 to 45 percent. Lake Erie was one of the first fisheries to use individual transferable quotas, requiring daily catch reports and strict audits. Still, critics argue the lake should be managed only for sport fishing and related industries. A report noted that the Canadian town of Port Dover has the lake’s largest fishing fleet.

Lake Erie is a shared resource with many uses, including fishing. For years, commercial and sport fishermen have competed for government support and public attention. Other groups, like environmentalists and lakefront property owners, have also influenced decisions. The Great Lakes Fishery Commission manages the fishery through agreements among all interested groups. The commission uses advanced math models to make decisions. However, the commission has faced criticism, especially from U.S. anglers and charter fishing groups, who have historically opposed commercial fishing. This conflict began in the 1960s and led to the elimination of commercial fishing in Great Lakes states by 2011. Some say these conflicts are cultural, not scientific, and cannot be solved by ecological data alone.

Lake Erie supports a strong sport fishery, even as commercial fishing declined. The best fishing conditions are in the Canadian part of the lake, where deep, cool waters are ideal for fish. Because of this, fishing boats crossing the international border must carry passports and report to border protection offices when returning to the U.S.

In 2008, Pennsylvania tried adding brown trout to Lake Erie to create a "put-grow-and-take" fishery. Reports showed a rise in charter boat fishing on the U.S. side, with the number of charter boats in Ohio increasing from 46 to 638 between 1975 and 1985 as pollution levels dropped.