Lake Erie, The Smallest Great Lake

Lake Erie is the fourth-largest lake (by surface area) of the five Great Lakes in North America and the eleventh-largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes. Situated on the International Boundary between Canada and the United States, Lake Erie’s northern shore is the Canadian province of Ontario, specifically the Ontario Peninsula, with the U.S. states of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York on its western, southern, and eastern shores. The lake has been a shipping lane for maritime vessels for centuries. Ships headed eastward can take the Welland Canal and a series of eight locks descending 326 feet to Lake Ontario which takes about 12 hours. Thousands of ships make this journey each year. During the 19th century, ships could enter the Buffalo River and travel the Erie Canal eastward to Albany then south to New York City along the Hudson River. Generally there is heavy traffic on the lake except during the winter months from January through March when ice prevents vessels from traveling safely.

Cleveland

The largest city on the lake is Cleveland. That means scenic cruise ships, pedal-powered boats and beach parties. Any Clevelander can tell you about the many benefits of being so close to amazing waterways like Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River. Near the top of the list is the view. Cleveland offers plenty of restaurants that take advantage of that waterfront scenery for a dining experience you won’t soon forget. When summer rolls around, the city heads to the shore daily for massive beach parties with live music and amazing food, not to mention gorgeous views of the lake and all its surrounding nature. Break out those sea legs of yours and get out onto the open water with kayak, paddle board and jet ski rentals, or just relax on a leisurely cruise with a cold drink in

your hand. There’s no wrong way to do Lake Erie. Home of summer fun on the near west side, Edgewater Beach boasts a 2,400-foot beach with 1,000 feet of swimming access and a pup-friendly section (plus cabana rentals and a fishing pier). Overheated? Grab some local Honey Hut ice cream at the Edgewater Beach House—an openair hangout that oozes relaxation. Other major cities along the lake shore include Buffalo, New York; Erie, Pennsylvania; and Toledo, Ohio. Situated below Lake Huron, Erie’s primary inlet is the Detroit River. The main natural outflow from the lake is via the Niagara River, which provides hydroelectric power to Canada and the U.S. as it spins huge turbines near Niagara Falls at Lewiston, New York and Queenston, Ontario.

Water Quality

During the 1960s water quality issues in the Great Lakes became a concern and Lake Erie was perceived to be “dying”. By the late 1960s, Canadian and American regulatory agencies were in agreement that limiting phosphorus loads was the key to controlling excessive algal growth and that a

coordinated lake-wide approach was necessary to deal with the phosphorus issue. These controls represented an unprecedented success in producing environmental results through international cooperation.

Fishing Paradise

Lake Erie is home to one of the world’s largest freshwater commercial fisheries. Lake Erie’s fish populations are the most abundant of the Great Lakes, partially because of the lake’s relatively mild temperatures and plentiful supply of plankton, which is the basic building block of the food chain. The lake’s fish population accounts for an estimated 50% of all fish inhabiting the Great Lakes. It contains steelhead, walleye (known in Canada as pickerel), largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, perch, lake trout, king salmon, whitefesh, smelt, and many others. the longest fish in Lake Erie is reportedly the sturgeon which can grow to 10 feet long and weight 300 pounds, but it is an endangered species and mostly lives on the bottom of the lake. The lake supports a strong sport fishery. While commercial fishing declined, sport fishing has remained. The deep cool waters that spawn the best fishing is in the Canadian side of the lake. As a result, a fishing boat that crosses the international border triggers the security concerns of border crossings, and fishermen are advised to carry their passport. If their boat crosses the invisible border line in the lake, upon returning to the American shore, passengers need to report to a local border protection office. Like the other Great Lakes, Erie produces lakeeffect snow when the first cold winds of winter pass over the warm waters. When the temperatures of the relatively warm surface water and the colder air separate to at least 18 °F to 23 °F apart, then “lake-effect snow becomes possible”: Lake-effect snow makes Buffalo and Erie the eleventh and thirteenth snowiest places in the entire United States respectively. In winter when the lake freezes, many fishermen go out on the ice, cut holes, and fish. It is even possible to build bonfires on the ice. But venturing on Lake Erie ice can be dangerous. In a 2009 incident, warming temperatures, winds of 35 miles per hour and currents pushing eastward dislodged a miles-

Byways 13

wide ice floe which broke away from the shore, trapping more than 130 fishermen offshore.

Ship Wreck Diving

Lake Erie is a favorite for divers since there are many shipwrecks, as many as 1,400 or more, according to one estimate. Of these, about 270 are confirmed shipwreck locations. Research into shipwrecks has been organized by the Peachman Lake Erie Shipwreck Research Center, located on the grounds of the Great Lakes Historical Society. Most wrecks are undiscovered but believed to be well preserved and at most 200 feet below the water surface.

https://www.visiterie.com One Hundred Miles

Ocean-like Beaches and Shoreline

Lake Erie is known for its ocean-like beaches and immense shoreline. If you’re looking to get away from the crowds and escape to a secluded beach off of Erie’s coast, then you’ll want to plan a trip to Presque Isle State Park. Although this park is not actually an island, as the name would imply, its thin neck leading to a 3,000-acre peninsula provides endless views of the Great Lake along with an abundance of outdoor activities. Presque Isle is a large peninsula that juts into Lake Erie. Presque Isle literally translates to “almost an island” in French. The park is located in Erie, Pennsylvania. It’s one of the state’s most visited attractions because of its year-round recreation. Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of all the peninsula has to offer, from hiking and swimming to snowshoeing and ice fishing. Presque Isle Lighthouse is centrally located on the peninsula. Originally constructed in 1873, the lighthouse is one of Erie’s oldest.

One of Ohio’s best summer destinations is the 100mile stretch of Lake Erie shore and resort towns between Toledo and Cleveland. Marblehead and Catawba peninsulas curve into the lake and dissolve into a handful of islands, the largest of which are Kelleys, Middle Bass and South Bass, all accessible by ferry. Vacationers browse comfortable Victorian-era towns known for their lighthouses and breezy harbors, and enjoy a taste of leisurely shore life. South of the peninsulas, Sandusky draws visitors to its bay location with Cedar Point Amusement Park, the

largest in the world, and three giant indoor water parks among its family-friendly resorts.

https://www.shoresandislands.com

Put-in-Bay, South Bass Island, has been an ideal stopover for boaters ever since early French and English explorers “put in at the bay”. By 1864, wine making established the island as a visitor destination. Today more than 1½ million people annually enjoy the quaintness of small-town life, with Victorian-era buildings, and resort community amenities. Most tour the island by bicycle or golf cart. When the sun goes down Put-inBay lights up with exciting nightlife; dozens of restaurants and pubs offer a wide selection to please every taste. Kayaking has become more popular along the lake, particularly in places such as Put-in-Bay, Ohio. There are extensive views with steep cliffs with exotic wildlife and extensive shoreline. Long distance swimmers have swum across the lake to set records. The lake is dotted by distinct lighthouses. A lighthouse off the coast of Cleveland, beset with cold lake winter spray, has an unusual artistic icy shape, although sometimes ice prevents the light from being seen by maritime vessels.

Great Lakes Circle Tour

The Great Lakes Circle Tour is a designated scenic road system connecting all of the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence River. Scenic routes encircle four of the five Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron and Erie. Drivers can cross from the United States to the Canadian town of Fort Erie by going over the Peace Bridge. The 629-mile Lake Erie Circle Tour circles the second-smallest Great Lake, spanning four U.S. states and the Canadian province of Ontario in the process.

http://greatlakescircletour.org/tours/lect.html