Lake Erie

Lake Erie is the fourth largest of the five Great Lakes in North America, and on the planet, this vast body of water is the 11th largest. The state border between Canada and the United States runs along its surface. Hotels and beach activities await tourists in the coastal towns, cruise ships call at the ports, inviting them to join the exciting journey. On Lake Erie there are many picturesque islands, where there are protected parks, and on the Niagara River flowing out of the reservoir is one of the natural wonders of the world – Niagara Falls.

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Video: Lake Erie

Contents

Highlights

The Lake Erie Basin is one of the most famous resort regions in the Midwestern United States and southern Canada. The comfortable climate and countless beaches attract many tourists to the shores of Erie. The lakeside towns and villages welcome guests with hotels and campgrounds, summer cottage towns, restaurants and entertainment centers. The lake is fringed with parks and beaches, there are all conditions for sailing and diving, fishing. Local travel agencies invite travelers to go on a cruise and visit the protected islands.

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On the shores of Lake Erie you can ride the world’s tallest and fastest roller coaster, see ancient Indian petroglyphs on the rocks, attend an evening performance at the theater, book a gastronomic tour and spend the day hiking through atmospheric restaurants and wineries. All resort towns of the region are conveniently connected by highways and railroads. A dense network of regional airfields has been built here, linked by local airlines to larger international airports.

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History of Lake Erie

Lake Erie, like the entire Great Lakes group, traces its history to the cold meltwater of colossal glaciers that retreated from North America about 12,000 years ago. On its shores are traces of Paleo-Indians who came here from the north during the Neolithic period. Near the city of Port Stanley (Ontario province), Canadian archaeologists have discovered the remains of an ancient fortified settlement of indigenous people, surrounded by an earthen rampart around the perimeter. And in the city of Millcreek (Pennsylvania) created a whole archaeological park Sommerheim. Here excavated cultural layers with tools for hunting and fishing of different eras. Scientists believe that Paleo-Indian tribes lived here continuously from about 8000 B.C. to the 6th century A.D., and then for unknown reasons left the place.

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At the time of the American conquest, large parts of the lake shore were inhabited by the Iroquois tribe of the Erie people. From them the name of the body of water was derived. For a long time the Iroquois did not let European colonists near their possessions. Only in 1669 an expedition of the outstanding French explorer Louis Jolier came to the lake unknown to Europeans. The traveler was fluent in the language of the locals and managed to get along with the warlike Iroquois.

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In the early 19th century, Canadian Colonel Thomas Talbot brought hundreds of settlers from Ireland and Scotland to the shores of Lake Erie and established settlements there. The settlement of Port Talbot, the town of Talbotville, Talbot Lake and the river flowing from it are named in honor of the leader of the colonists in Southern Ontario.

In 1813, during the war between the United States and the British Empire, a major naval battle took place on Lake Erie. Off the coast of Ohio, in the Put-in-Bay area, the American fleet under Commodore Oliver Perry defeated a British squadron, after which the eastern regions were finally secured by the United States.

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In the harbor of Erie, Pennsylvania, on the southern shore of the lake, one can view an exact replica of the two-masted Niagara, one of the American war brigs that participated in that historic battle.

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Lake Erie is also involved in the history of aeronautics. In June 1857, an eccentric aeronaut from Philadelphia, John Steiner, decided to fly from the American state of Pennsylvania to Canada in a balloon of his own design. At the Canadian coast, the air in the balloon cooled, the balloon began to decline sharply, and Steiner was forced to jump into the water. The balloonist was rescued by sailors of a steamship sailing near the crash site. A few years later, John Steiner took part in the Civil War of the Northern and Southern States on the side of President Abraham Lincoln’s troops. He served in reconnaissance, observing from the basket of a balloon the movement of enemy troops. Curiously, on one occasion a young cavalry officer who had come from Germany on a diplomatic mission took to the air with him. This was Count Ferdinand von Zepellin, who many years later created a whole fleet of famous airships.

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The 565 km long Erie Canal, built in 1825, connected the lake to the Hudson River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Since the surface of Lake Erie is above the ocean level, 34 locks had to be erected in the fairway of the man-made waterway, with a total elevation difference of 172 meters. Since that time, New York City has become the largest commercial seaport on the east coast of the United States, and the nearly deserted Great Lakes and Midwest region has received a powerful boost to settlement and development.

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Geography

Lake Erie has a water area of 25,874 km². The body of water extends from southwest to northeast for 388 kilometers, with a distance of 92 kilometers between its northwest and southeast shores. The northern limits of Lake Erie are reached by the Canadian province of Ontario. To the west of the body of water lies the American state of Michigan. To the south and east are the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.

The Detroit River, which flows out of Lake Huron, flows into Erie, along with many other major navigable streams – the full-flowing Grand River, Momi, Sandusky, and Cuyahoga rivers. At the eastern end of Lake Erie, from where the Niagara River flows, is the city of Buffalo (279,000 inhabitants). 34 km downstream of the river, at the famous Niagara Falls, is the city of Niagara Falls (49,000 inhabitants). The two cities are combined into a single agglomeration.

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The Lake Erie basin is densely populated, with 17 cities in the region with populations over 50,000. The largest coastal city is Cleveland, Ohio, with over 372,000 citizens. The cities of Erie, Pennsylvania, Toledo, Ohio, and others are located on the shores of the lake. All along the coast and on the islands are scattered charming resort villages, where tourists can find beaches, cozy cottages, entertainment.

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At Lake Erie sometimes occur unusual for northern latitudes atmospheric phenomena. The press published numerous eyewitness accounts from Cleveland and other coastal cities in Ohio, who observed mirages. On hot days over the surface of the lake appeared outlines of the Canadian shores, located 80 kilometers away and hidden behind the horizon. The same phenomena are observed from the coast of Ontario. From there, you can sometimes clearly see how cars drive along the waterfronts of American villages, yachts sail from the piers.

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Flora and fauna

Lake Erie is surrounded by hilly landscapes covered with Carolina broadleaf forests. The name comes from the distinctive woodlands in the Carolinas, common throughout the eastern United States and southern regions of Canada. It is home to oaks and ash trees, birch and hickory trees, and pawpaw trees, as well as walnut and tall yellow poplar trees, also known as tulip trees.

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The Carolina forests are home to more than 500 species of animals and birds. White-tailed deer, American black bears, foxes, badgers, raccoons, and opossums can be found here. Otters, beavers, snakes and turtles can be found near the water. Rare birds nest in the tree crowns, including the Carolina parrot, northern cardinal, red-bellied woodpecker, and the nearly extinct wandering pigeon.

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Lake Erie has long been spoken of as the home of an outlandish creature as well. In 1793, the captain of the French sailing ship Felicity stated that a strange animal with a snake’s neck 12-15 meters long had surfaced off the side of the schooner. Such reports of people seeing a monster in the lake have been periodically documented for over 200 years, but there is no proof of its existence. In local folklore, the mythical monster is called Bessie. Back in 1993, the owner of a yacht marina said he would pay $5,000 to the daredevil who caught Bessie alive, but the prize is still unclaimed.

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Climate and weather

The Lake Erie basin straddles the volatile boundary of two climatic zones, humid continental and subtropical. The relatively shallow lake stores a lot of the sun’s heat, and the region has its own comfortable microclimate. But at the slightest breeze, the shallow depth contributes to the formation of impressive waves. The lake is known as a stormy lake, and during heavy rains in the clouds over the water, lightning often flashes and thunder rumbles can be heard. In Canada, Lake Erie is called the “metropolis of thunderstorms.”

In summer on the shores of the lake is not hot, the air warms up to +20 … +22 ° C.

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Winters on Lake Erie are mild and snowy. Especially heavy snowfalls occur in the region between Cleveland and Buffalo. Snowdrifts of 2-3 meters are not uncommon here. Locals call this area the Snow Belt. In January and February the air temperature rarely drops below -6 … -4 °С, but sometimes cold Arctic cyclones bring short-term frosts up to -27 °С. The reservoir freezes from December to the beginning of April. In summer, the water temperature in the lake is comfortable: +20…+24 °С.

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Islands of Lake Erie

There are 27 islands on Lake Erie. The largest of them is Peli Island (42 km²), included in the province of Ontario. It has the mildest climate in Canada. Since 1860, orchards and grape vines have been grown on the island, and the Pelee Island winery is in operation. The production facility has a tasting room and a specialty store. Gourmets appreciate the local wines, as Pelee’s vineyards are at about the same latitude as Provence in France or Tuscany in Italy.

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During the summer, the island attracts thousands of ecotourism fans. Festivals, musical and literary evenings, and dance shows are held in the local village. In the fall, pheasant hunting is allowed in the island’s forest lands, and hunters from Canada, the United States, and other countries head here during this season.

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Ferries from the ports of Kingsville and Leamington run from early spring to early December, and at any time of year you can get here by regional airline from Windsor or by private jet.

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Neighboring Middle Island is the southernmost point of Canada’s possessions. The 18.5 hectare island is uninhabited, is only 150 meters from the US border, and is part of the Point Peli Reserve. It is accessible as part of group tours.

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Entertainment and places of interest

Traveling through the scenic surroundings of Lake Erie, tourists will find a special local attraction in each coastal town.

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The city of Sandusky, Ohio, the administrative center of Lake Erie, is home to the famous Cedar Point Amusement Park, which has been in operation since 1870. Among its rides are 16 dizzying roller coasters. The tallest structure elevates the passengers of the cart to 130 meters, from where they rush down at a speed of 190 km/h. But not all the attractions of the park are designed for extreme athletes. There is a lot of safe entertainment for children, there are racing tracks for go-karts, arranged water park.

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More than 3 million tourists visit the attractions every year. The park also owns an 18-hole golf course outside of Sandusky, with a 400-bed clubhouse hotel at the players’ disposal.

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Cedar Point is home to a mile and a half of beach and 6 resort hotels, including the luxurious Breakers Hotel, built in 1905. There is a yacht marina, restaurants and cafes. Sandusky is also home to the Carousel Museum. The exposition presents working fairground carousels of the 1920s, collected figures of horses, camels, giraffes, tigers and other animals on which young Americans rode in the last century. The dynamic images of the animals are carved from wood or cast from aluminum and painted. There is also a mechanical organ on display, which provided the musical backdrop for the attraction. There is also a woodcarvers’ workshop in the building, and their works are sold in the souvenir store. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 to 18:00. Tickets cost $6.

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In the town of Milan, Ohio, in 1847 was born the famous inventor and businessman Thomas Edison, creator of the phonograph, electric lamp, battery and many other useful things. In all, he received more than 2,200 patents for his inventions. A memorial museum is located in the family estate, where personal belongings of the genius engineer, models of devices and appliances invented by him are collected. The museum’s board of trustees includes several of Edison’s descendants.

The Edison House Museum is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Tickets are $17.

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From the harbor of Put-In-Bay, a ferry takes tourists to Kellis Island. Here are equipped with sandy beaches, in the village there are stores and restaurants, on the shore built cottages where you can stay overnight. Several varieties of grapes are grown on the island. The local winery, Crooked Tree Vineyard, has a store and tasting room.

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As you drive through the town of Vermilion, stop at Brummer’s Chocolates on Main Street. Since 1904, it has been selling amazing desserts, cakes, homemade chocolate and caramel candies. There is a café in the building where you can sample the treats.

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Near Rockland, on the banks of the Allegheny River lies a huge 7 by 4 meter boulder brought here by a glacier from Northern Canada. Carved into its smooth surface are 55 petroglyphs depicting archers, animals, groups of dancing people, spirals and geometric figures. It is known that this land was inhabited by the Delaware tribe. Today, the stone, listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, is known as Indian God Rock.

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The boulder was discovered by members of a French expedition exploring the vicinity of Lake Erie in 1749. They reported that the Indians accompanying the party looked at the rock with religious reverence. It immediately became a local landmark among Europeans. In the 19th century, steamboats stopped here specifically so passengers could gaze at the mystical images.

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There is a hiking trail near God’s Rock, but it is better to explore it from a boat – most of the images face the river. This sacred rock is not the only one here. 12 kilometers to the east is Rainbow Rock, another rock with well-preserved large petroglyphs carved at high altitudes.

In the resort town of Put-in-Bay, Ohio, a memorial to the American Navy’s victory over the British squadron in 1813 has been created in a national park. Back in the early XX century, to the centennial of the battle, on the shore of Lake Erie erected an impressive monument in the form of a 107-meter Doric column. At its foot there is a visitor center with a museum exposition, where displays show the course of the battle. Tours are conducted by national park rangers. After paying $10, you can take an elevator to the observation balcony at the top of the column, which offers a panorama of Lake Erie and nearby islands, with the shores of Canada visible on the horizon.

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On the lakeside waterfront of Erie, Pennsylvania, there is an interesting Maritime Museum dedicated to the history of Lake Erie and its rich ichthyofauna. The museum is located in the building of a former steam power plant, erected at the beginning of the last century. With the help of interactive screens you can look into the depths of the lake and examine its inhabitants. In the halls are models of ships and lighthouses, a large exposition devoted to underwater archaeology.

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The main exhibit of the museum is the restored brig “Niagara”, built at the local shipyard in 1812. The ship is moored at the Presque Isle Bay Marina across from the museum and is available for visits. The historic sailing ship serves as a training vessel for U.S. Naval Academy cadets and cruises the Great Lakes in the summer. Restorers completely replaced the hull plating, but retained many authentic wooden details in the interior of the ancient ship. Modern navigation equipment is installed on the captain’s bridge. The brig is also equipped with an auxiliary diesel engine, radars and a radio station.

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Fishermen on Lake Erie are never without a catch. Its waters hold tremendous resources – about 50% of all the fish in the Great Lakes system. This is due to the mild temperature regime and the abundance of plankton in Erie’s warm water. Largemouth bass, walleye, and salmon are coveted prey. Numerous coastal parks have campgrounds for fishermen, where boats are available for rent. The stores sell fishing rods, spinning rods and other gear for every taste. Fishing requires the purchase of a license from the appropriate state.

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In the winter, ice yachts are available to ride on the ice of Lake Erie. These are kayaks mounted on a triangular frame with sharp skate skids. The sails allow the ice boats to move very fast. The best International DN class ice boats have been made in Detroit since 1937. They reach speeds of up to 100 km/h at races. In the Great Lakes region ice boat rides are a popular winter entertainment. International championships are organized here every year, with athletes from the United States, Canada, Sweden and other northern European countries competing.

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Transportation

Lake Erie is surrounded by a dense network of highways and railroads that provide access from other parts of the United States or Canada to both large lakeside towns and tiny resort communities. Ferries and tourist motorboats run from coastal ports to the islands most of the year. Domestic air transportation is well developed here. Even in the resort villages there are airstrips for private airplanes and service stations for small aircraft.

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How to get there

You can get to Lake Erie via international airports in surrounding cities, for example, by flying into Cleveland Airport, located 14 km southwest of the city center. There is a city subway line under the passenger terminal, and buses and cabs are available. Toronto and Detroit airports also receive flights from London, Paris, Geneva, Frankfurt and other European cities.

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International tourists traveling to Lake Erie resorts often arrive in New York City, and from there travel to the lakeside towns by domestic airplanes or high-speed trains.

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