The tribal name "erie" is a shortened form of the Iroquoian word erielhonan, meaning "long tail". Predictions of the lake being over-fished in 1895 were premature, since the fishery has survived commercial and sport fishing, pollution in the middle of the 20th century, invasive species and other ailments, but state and provincial governments, as well as national governments, have played a greater role as time went by. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. [49] One report suggests the oxygen-poor zone began about 1993 in the lake's central basin and becomes more pronounced during summer months, but it is somewhat of a mystery why this happens. The U.S. has just 125 miles more shoreline on the Great Lakes than Canada, however this is solely because of Lake Michigan, which is 1,600 miles of shoreline that Canada doesn't have. [79] Another estimate was more than $7billion. [67] A plan by Samsung to build an offshore wind farm on the north shore of the lake, from Port Maitland to Nanticoke for a distance of 15.5mi (24.9km),[68] has been met with opposition from residents. The shortest distance across the Great lakes is at Point Pelee but even then the 50-kilometre (30 mile) flight can prove insurmountable if the wind and weather conditions are not perfect. The port at Toledo, Ohio, handles soft-coal shipments, and Buffalo is an important grain port. Short-term level changes are often caused by seiches that are particularly high when southwesterly winds blow across the length of the lake during storms. [99] It was the first grand jury investigation of water pollution in the area. When fishermen realized late Saturday morning that the ice had broken away, they began to debate the best way off. [81] Some scientists speculate that the dead zone is a naturally occurring phenomenon. The lake's drainage basin covers 78,062 square kilometers (excluding its surface area). Growth of organisms in the lake is then spiked to the point that oxygen levels are depleted. [39] But since high levels of pollution were discovered in the 1960s and 1970s, there has been continued debate over the desired intensity of commercial fishing. Omissions? What's the physics behind "lake effect snow"? He first struck the water about 25 miles below Long Point During this time Mr. Steiner says he thinks his balloon bounded from the water at least twenty times. Among the diving community, they are considered world class, offering opportunities to visit an underwater museum that most people will never see. [39] The lake consists of a long list of well established introduced species. The most popular two options give you a choice of cruising through Canada or remaining in the US. About Our Great Lakes - Lake by Lake Profiles: NOAA Great Lakes Canada by going across Lake Erie. The algal blooms result from growth of Microcystis, a toxic blue-green algae that the zebra mussels, which infest the lake, will not eat. [89] While they have a non-venomous bite, they are a key predator in the lake's aquatic ecosystem since they feed on mudpuppies, walleye, and smallmouth bass. Port Dover has a beach, a pier and a lighthouse. All of these sources contribute nutrients, primarily phosphorus, to the lake. Completed in 1825, it connected Lake Erie in the west to the Hudson River in the east, a distance of about 360 miles (580 km). Cleveland's director of public utilities Ben Stefanski pursued a massive effort to "scrub the Cuyahoga"; the effort cost $100million in bonds, according to one estimate. It is about 40 kilometres (25 mi) long and is about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) across at its widest point. Human activity, such as pollution and maritime ship traffic, can affect this environment in numerous ways. [74] There have been two-year $2million studies trying to understand the "growing zone" which was described as a 10-foot-thick layer of cold water at the bottom, 55 feet (17m) in one area, which stretches 100 miles [160km] across the lake's center. [128] The cold conditions make diving difficult, requiring divers with skill and experience. [36] In 2007, the wreck of the steamship named after "Mad" Anthony Wayne was found near Vermilion, Ohio, in 50 feet (15m) of water; the vessel sank in 1850 after its boilers exploded, and 38 people died. These primarily concerned political reforms and land allocation issues. Management of the fishery is by consensus of all management agencies with an interest in the resource and work under the mandate of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. [128] Divers have a policy of not removing or touching anything at the wreck. Texas, serving over 3800 destinations across North America, Mexico and Canada. In a 2009 incident, warming temperatures, winds of 35 miles per hour (56km/h) and currents pushing eastward dislodged a miles-wide ice floe which broke away from the shore, trapping more than 130 fishermen offshore; one man died while the rest were rescued by helicopters or boats.[123]. What is the. The ones in maroon indicate the US only, Great Lakes route. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/Lake-Erie, Lakepedia - Lake Erie: The Tenth Largest Freshwater Lake In The World, United States Environmental Protection Agency - Lake Erie, Lake Erie - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Lake Erie - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). With a mean surface height of 570 feet (170 metres) above sea level, Erie has the smallest mean depth (62 feet) of the Great Lakes, and its deepest point is 210 feet. According to one estimate, 34 to 36 inches (860 to 910mm) of water evaporates each year from the surface of the lake,[6] which allows for rainfall and other precipitation in surrounding areas. It is the shallowest of the Great Lakes with an average depth of 10 fathoms 3 feet or 63ft (19m)[7] and a maximum depth of 35 fathoms (210ft; 64m)[7][8] Because Erie is the shallowest, it is also the warmest of the Great Lakes,[16] and in 1999 this almost became a problem for two nuclear power plants which require cool lake water to keep their reactors cool. The most popular two options give you a choice of cruising through Canada or remaining. Lake Erie's environmental health has been an ongoing concern for decades, with issues such as overfishing, pollution, algae blooms, and eutrophication generating headlines.[14][15]. [23] The project was abandoned. Even in the coldest winters, there are dangerous patches of thin ice. Lake Erie lies to the south of Long Point, and Long Point Bay lies on the north side. It stretches from Waterford, NY to the Upper Niagara River between Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). What is wrong with reporter Susan Raff's arm on WFSB news? The lakes principal tributary rivers are the Detroit (carrying the discharge of Lake Huron), Huron, and Raisin rivers of Michigan; the Maumee, Portage, Sandusky, Cuyahoga, and Grand rivers of Ohio; the Cattaraugus Creek of New York; and the Grand River of Ontario. What is the answer to today's cryptoquote in newsday? In addition to reigning as King of the Lake, Heynes also wanted to standardize and streamline the process for those courageous, aquatically-inclined souls attempting the swim. How far apart are Chicago and Cleveland? Junction Points These are positions where two or more routes converge; they are indicated by magenta CAPITAL LETTERS in the tables. Attempts failed to stock coho salmon, and its numbers are dwindling. [30] The name may also come from the word eri, meaning "cherry tree". [112], There have been concerns about rising levels of mercury in walleye fish; a study by the Canadian Ministry of the Environment noted an "increasing concentration trend" but that concentrations were within acceptable limits established by authorities in Pennsylvania. It is located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. maritime border with Canada and approximately 60 miles (100 kilometers) west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania state border . The compact was signed into law by President George W. Bush in September 2008. [91] The insects mate over a 72-hour period from June through September; they fly in masses up to the shore, mate in the air, then females lay up to 8,000 eggs each over the water; the eggs sink back down and the cycle repeats. The fastest time for women, set by Melanie Nickou of Waterford, Pennsylvania, in 2011, is 13 hours and 35 minutes. While commercial fishing declined, sport fishing has remained. [101] Jones filed the misdemeanor charges in district court, alleging violations of the 1899 Rivers and Harbors Act.[102]. [127], Lake Erie is a favorite for divers since there are many shipwrecks, perhaps 1,400 to 8,000 according to one estimate,[36] of which about 270 are confirmed shipwreck locations. The propeller was reclaimed days before being converted to scrap metal and brought back to the dive site. Entry into Canada: Canadian law requires that all persons entering Canada carry both proof of citizenship and proof of identity. 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. One estimate was that there have been 180 invasive species in the Great Lakes, some having traveled in ballast water in international ships. [115] Five other people reported seeing something similar on three separate occasions, but there is no scientific evidence of such a creature. What is the shortest distance across Lake Erie from Canada to Ohio? Due to the international boundary and the distance to Hudson Bay, the shortest distance to the Atlantic is through Minnesota to Lake Superior. [104] There have been instances of beach closings at Presque Isle because of unexplained E. Coli contaminations,[105] possibly caused by sewer water overflows after heavy downpours. Recommendations were made for reducing point source outflows, as well as reducing farm contributions of phosphorus by changing fertilizer usage, employing no-till farming and other conservative practices. Lake Erie islands tend to be in the westernmost part of the lake and have different characters. Long Point, Ontario - Wikipedia [108] According to chemical engineer Peter Douglas, there is sufficient storage space beneath Lake Erie to hold between 15 and 50 years of liquid CO2 emissions from the 4,000 megawatt Nanticoke coal plant. [129] While the lake is relatively warmer than the other Great Lakes, there is a thermocline, meaning that as a diver descends, the water temperature drops about 30 degrees Fahrenheit change (17C), requiring a wetsuit. The cheapest way to get from Erie to Canada costs only $73, and the quickest way takes just 3 hours. [57] By the 1980s, there were about 130 fishing vessels with about 3,000 workers,[39] but commercial fishing was declining rapidly, particularly from the American side. It forms the boundary between Canada (Ontario) to the north and the United States (Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York) to the west, south, and east. . [115] There is a Lake Erie Monster beer and a Cleveland Monsters hockey team. Many people drive to other islands for dinner with friends. [89] The snake is helpful in keeping the population of goby fish in check. When the rescued fishermen made it to shore, authorities had them line up single-file to take down their names. At its deepest point Lake Erie is 210 feet (64m) deep. Long Point is the world's largest freshwater sand-spit, according to Long Point Tours. In early August, the 2019 bloom was expected to measure 7.5 on the severity index, but could range between 6 and 9. As the power of the Iroquois waned during the last quarter of the 17th century, several other, mainly Anishinaabe, displaced them from the territories they claimed on the north shore of the lake. Did Billy Graham speak to Marilyn Monroe about Jesus? In 2007, one estimate of the total market for fishing in the Great Lakes, including commercial and recreational fishing, was $4billion annually. [136], In 1997, The New York Times reporter Donna Marchetti took a bike tour around the Lake Erie perimeter, traveling 40 miles (64km) per day and staying at bed and breakfasts. [97] In the 1970s, patches of the lake were declared dead because of industrial waste as well as sewage from runoffs; as The New York Times reporter Denny Lee wrote in 2004, "The lake, after all, is where the Rust Belt meets the water."[19]. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. [106] There was substantial evidence that the new controls had substantially reduced levels of DDT in the water by 1979. What metric unit to measure distance across Lake Erie? In Summer - We are in the North headed west: You will have several options when you reach the Erie Canal. Do you have pictures of Gracie Thompson from the movie Gracie's choice. Other major cities along the lake shore include Buffalo, New York; Erie, Pennsylvania; and Toledo, Ohio. Because of its small size and shallow character, the lake has a comparatively short water-retention time of 2.6 years. Boaters who have touched Canadian soil must report to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) upon re-entry to the United States. [69] The area around Port Rowan has special trees which grow because of the "tempering effect of the lake", and species include tulip trees, dogwood, sassafras and sour gum. [19] The "waves build very quickly", according to other accounts. Since the 1970s environmental regulation has led to a great increase in water quality and the return of economically important fish species such as walleye and other biological life. Travel to and Re-entry from Canada by Boat - Ohio Department of Natural The shorelines of these lakes left behind high ground sand ridges that cut through swamps and were used as trails for Indians and later, pioneers. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Point Pelee National Park, the southernmost point of the Canadian mainland, is located on a peninsula extending into the lake. [138] In 2008, 14-year-old Jade Scognamillo swam from New York's Sturgeon Point to Ontario's Crystal Beach and completed the 11.9-mile (19.2-km) swim in five hours, 40 minutes and 35 seconds, and became the youngest swimmer to make the crossing. . [14] As of the 2010s, much of the phosphorus in the lake comes from fertilizer applied to no-till soybean and corn fields but washed into streams by heavy rains. Is Brooke shields related to willow shields? [128][129] Ships headed eastward can take the Welland Canal[146] and a series of eight locks descending 326 feet (99m) to Lake Ontario which takes about 12 hours. Crossed Lake Erie on a 30ft Catalina Sailboat. How far is jersey from Canada? [89] They mate from late May through early June and can be found in large mating balls with one female bunched with several males. Our route across the Gulf ICW is 271-miles from Mobile to Carrabelle, FL. During one storm in November 2003, the water level at Buffalo rose by 7 feet (2.1m) with waves of 1015 feet (3.04.6 metres) for a rise of 22 feet (6.7m). As such, it's the start in many marathon swims across the lake. [73], The lake has been plagued with a number of invasive species, including zebra[49] and quagga mussels, the goby and the grass carp. [109] The lake contains steelhead,[110] walleye (known in Canada as pickerel),[39][110] largemouth bass, smallmouth bass,[110] perch,[110] lake trout, king salmon, whitefish, smelt, and many others. There are conflicting reports about the overall effect of global warming on the Great Lakes region, including Lake Erie. Because of its small size and shallow character, the lake has a comparatively short water-retention time of 2.6 years. Many industrial and municipal sources have since then been greatly reduced. [141][142], The lake is dotted by distinct lighthouses. [39] The lake's fish population accounts for an estimated 50% of all fish inhabiting the Great Lakes. [88], The Lake Erie water snake, a subspecies of the northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon), lives in the vicinity of Ohio's Put-in-Bay Harbor and had been placed on the threatened species list. [13] Some outflow occurs via the Welland Canal, part of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, which diverts water for ship passages from Port Colborne, Ontario, on Lake Erie, to St. Catharines on Lake Ontario, an elevation difference of 326ft (99m). Recreational boaters have two options to report: (1) Outlying Areas Reporting Service [ OARS] Videophone or (2) via telephone under the I-68 program. The combination of overfishing and the eutrophication of the lake by pollution caused the population to collapse, and in the mid-1980s, the blue walleye was declared extinct. Thus, the eastern and central basins of the modern lake are much deeper than the western basin, which averages only 25 feet (7.6m) deep and is rich in nutrients and fish. [26] Meanwhile, at the western end of the lake, Toledo experienced a similar drop in water level. Generally, the lowest levels are in January and February and the highest in June or July, although there have been exceptions. [91] These insects were a sign of Lake Erie's move back to health, since the mayflies require clean water to thrive. The total distance on the Erie Canal is 338 miles. Save gas and time on your next trip. The Lake Erie and Northern Railway (reporting mark LE&N) was an interurban electric railway which operated in the Grand River Valley in Ontario, Canada. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). [92], There have been incidents of birds dying from botulism, in 2000[93] and in 2002. Situated below Lake Huron, Erie's primary inlet is the Detroit River. Up until the end of the 1950s, the most commonly caught commercial fish (more than 50% of the commercial catch) was a subspecies of the walleye known as the blue walleye (Sander vitreus glaucus) sometimes erroneously called "blue pike". It had support from both political parties, including United States Senator George Voinovich of Ohio and Governor Jennifer Granholm of Michigan, but is not popular in the southwestern states because of frequent drought conditions and water scarcity. Fun fact: Long Point is 24.3 miles north of North East, Pennsylvania, the narrowest span of Lake Erie. [74], Other invasive species in Lake Erie include: spiny water fleas, fishhook water fleas, sea lamprey, and white perch. [17] The warm summer of 1999 caused lake temperatures to come close to the 85F (29C) limit necessary to keep the plants cool. In the Battle of Lake Erie, an important engagement of the War of 1812, U.S. Commodore Oliver H. Perry defeated a British squadron at Put-in-Bay, Ohio, and secured the Northwest for the United States. [19] Long-distance swimmers have swum across the lake to set records; for example, a 15-year-old amputee swam the 12-mile (19km) stretch across the lake in 2001. An international water rights policy overseen by the Great Lakes Commission, the compact aims to prevent diversion of water from Great Lakes to distant states, as well as to set standards for use and conservation. Can You See Cleveland From Canada? - Ontario Bakery Scientists: Fifty-Mile 'Long View' Across Lake Erie Theoretically [31] Near Port Stanley, there is an Indigenous village dating from the 16th century known as the Southwold Earthworks where as many as 800 Neutral Indigenous peoples once lived; the archaeological remains include double earth walls winding around the grass-covered perimeter. [58] Lake-effect snow makes Buffalo and Erie the eleventh and thirteenth snowiest cities in the entire United States respectively, according to data collected from the National Climatic Data Center. While the official Gulf ICW distance is charted at 218-miles. 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. It opened up the West to settlers and offered an inexpensive way to . The grand jury indicted four corporations for polluting Lake Erie and waterways in northeast Ohio. Ferryboats operate in numerous places: such as the passenger-only Jet Express Ferry from Sandusky and Port Clinton to Put-in-Bay and Kelly's Island.