It's the only Great Lake that doesn't border Michigan. What to know about Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario may be the only Great Lake not bordering Michigan , but the body of water has natural wonders of its own worth trekking east to see.
The smallest of the five Great Lakes by area, Lake Ontario has 712 miles of shoreline, according to the Michigan Sea Grant. The lake straddles an international border, touching the U.S. and Canada, and features a popular tourist attraction, Niagara Falls , at its western end, along with historic lighthouses, boating, fishing and more.
The easternmost of the Great Lakes, Lake Ontario connects to Lake Erie by the Niagara River, according to the American Great Lakes Ports Association. Lake Huron, Michigan and Superior make up the rest of the quintet.
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"Lake Ontario is an ecological wonder. Every drop of water within the Great Lakes basin flows through Lake Ontario. Being so close to the Atlantic Ocean makes Lake Ontario a crucial corridor for transportation, water exchange, and fish migration," Great Lakes Guide says.
Here's what to know about Lake Ontario.
Where is Lake Ontario located?
Lake Ontario borders Canada's Ontario province to the north and west and New York in the U.S. to the south and east.
How deep is Lake Ontario?
Lake Ontario has an average depth of about 283 feet, and a maximum depth of 802 feet, according to the National Museum of the Great Lakes .
How wide is Lake Ontario? How long?
Lake Ontario is 53 miles wide and 193 miles long, Michigan Sea Grant says.
How warm does Lake Ontario get?
Lake Ontario's temperatures begins rising in early spring, climbing to a peak in late summer and early fall, according to GLISA , a collaborative between Michigan State University and University of Michigan supported by NOAA.
Seatemperature.org says the average temperature of Lake Ontario is 41.9 degrees Fahrenheit in May. It rises in June to 58.8, and 70.5 in July, before topping out at nearly 73 degrees in August. In February and March, lake temperatures average in the upper 30s.
When is it warm enough to swim in Lake Ontario?
Swimming is typically comfortable in lake waters at about 70 degrees, Swimoutlet.com says.
Your body can enter "cold shock" in water between 50 and 60 degrees, the National Weather Service says. The dangerous condition brings a sudden spike in heart rate and blood pressure, accompanied by involuntary gasping, rapid breathing or hyperventilating in the first two to three minutes, and immediate panic, fear or stress.
How many lighthouses are on Lake Ontario?
Lake Ontario boasts more than 50 lighthouses on the Canadian and U.S. shores, many along the St. Lawrence River to the northeast, Great Lakes Proud says.
How many shipwrecks are there in Lake Ontario?
There have been an estimated 550 shipwrecks on Lake Ontario, the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area says. The lake's eastern basin is particularly disastrous, having seen some 270-500 shipwrecks, mainly in the "Marysburgh Vortex," an area where magnetic rock from an ancient meteorite impact throws off compass readings, Nature Canada says.
What is Niagara Falls?
Niagara Falls , three cascades on the Niagara River between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie , is a popular tourist destination, Niagara Falls USA notes. The falls are made up of Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. Visitors can enjoy walking tours near the top of the falls and boat tours on the river below.
The Niagara region draws in 14 million visitors annually, including 12 million to the city of Niagara Falls, according to Niagara Falls Tourism . On The New York side, Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest state park in the U.S., open 365 days a year and brings in over 8 million visitors annually.
What is the Welland Canal?
The Welland Canal is part of the St. Lawrence Seaway, a system of rivers, lakes, canals and locks that allows ocean-going ships to travel from the Gulf of St. Lawrence on Canada's east coast all the way to Duluth, Minnesota, on western Lake Superior.
The Welland Canal includes eight locks from Lake Ontario to lake Erie. It traverses Canada west of Niagara Falls.
What is the lake's Indigenous name?
The name Lake Ontario comes from the Huron word Ontari'io, meaning great lake or beautiful water, per the National Museum of the Great Lakes.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: It's the only Great Lake that doesn't border Michigan. What to know about Lake Ontario
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