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Lake Erie, Great Lakes of North America

Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes of North America, straddles the borders of Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, and the Canadian province of Ontario. The lake is named after the Native American tribe that inhabited its shores before being killed off by the Iroquois League for aiding their enemy, the Hurons. In relation to the other four Great Lakes, Lake Erie is the fourth largest in…
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Welcome to the ultimate guide to Lake Erie! Article topics include:

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    • All About Lake Erie

    Lake Locations: Canada - Ontario, Canada - Great Lakes of North America - USA - US Mid-Atlantic Region - New York - Chautauqua-Allegheny Region, NY - Greater Niagara Region, NY - Pennsylvania - Great Lakes Region, PA - US Midwest Region - Michigan - Southeast Michigan - Ohio - Northeast Ohio - Northwest Ohio -

    Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes of North America, straddles the borders of Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, and the Canadian province of Ontario. The lake is named after the Native American tribe that inhabited its shores before being killed off by the Iroquois League for aiding their enemy, the Hurons.

    In relation to the other four Great Lakes, Lake Erie is the fourth largest in surface area, the most southern-reaching, the shallowest, and the smallest by volume. But don’t let that fool you: Lake Erie has a surface area of 9,940 square miles (6,261,500 acres!), stretches out over 241 miles long and 57 miles wide, boasts 871 miles of shoreline, and has a maximum depth of 210 feet. Interestingly, due to the lake’s shallow average depth of 62 feet, Lake Erie is the only of the Great Lakes to frequently freeze over.

    Nicknamed the “Walleye Capital of the World” and widely considered to be the best walleye fishing anywhere, Lake Erie is a sought-after angling destination. Due to its shallow depths, the lake hosts the ideal environment for walleye and is superb for ice fishing. But if walleye isn’t your pleasure, don’t despair. The lake is also well-known for its yellow perch, steelhead, salmon, and smallmouth bass. Go out to fish the depths on your own, or hire one of the many fishing charters in the area; either way, you’re sure to have an exciting and satisfying fishing experience.

    Lake Erie is huge and with its size comes a wealth of recreation options. Swim in the cool blue waters, go boating, take a hike, birdwatch, observe the native flora and fauna, play on a sandy beach, water ski, dine lakeside, and participate in a number of other activities. The options are almost endless, depending on your personal preferences.

    While the official number is disputed, Lake Erie is said to have at least 36 islands. Of these 36, Presque Isle is the only one located in Pennsylvania. Originally a real island, Presque Isle is now a 3,200 acre sandy peninsula. Called Pennsylvania’s only seashore, Presque Isle State Park has a beautiful coastline with 7 miles of protected, sandy beaches. Visitors enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, biking, and hiking along the park’s 21 miles of trails. Also a National Natural Landmark, the island is a popular resting ground for migrating birds and has a larger number of endangered, threatened, and rare species than any other area of comparable size in Pennsylvania.

    Presque Isle has four public boat launching areas. Vista Launch is appropriate for small and personal watercraft, Niagara Launch and Lagoon Launch can accommodate up to mediums size boats, while West Pier Launch, the biggest of the four, provides space to launch your large boat. There is also a marina with about 500 boat slips for permanent or temporary mooring of your watercraft.

    Twenty of the 36 islands are located in Ohio: Ballast, Buckeye, Catawba, Cedar Point, Gibraltar, Green, Gull, Johnson’s, Kafralu, Kelleys, Lost Ballast, Middle Bass, Mouse, North Bass, Rattlesnake, South Bass, Starve, Sugar, Turtle, and West Sister. Some inhabited, others abandoned, and some never-lived upon, these islands form part of the rich history and lore of Ohio’s slice of Lake Erie. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provides State Parks on five of the islands: Catawba, Kelleys, South Bass, Middle Basse, and North Bass.

    Lake Erie offers myriad activities for all ages. Go caving, explore a cavern, visit the area’s lighthouses, relax and watch a beautiful sunset, or go sightseeing along the hundreds of miles of shoreline. If you’re an animal lover, visit a real drive-through safari at the African Safari Wildlife Park. History buffs will wile away their hours at the Antique Car Museum and Johnson’s Island Preservation Society. The whole family will squeal with glee at the famous Cedar Point Amusement Park, the scary Ghostly Manor, the exciting Island Adventures Family Fun Center, the refreshing Kalahari Resort and Indoor Waterpark, and the interactive Toledo Zoo. Whatever your pleasure, Lake Erie will surely live up to your expectations.

    Things to Do at Lake Erie

    These are some activities in the Lake Erie area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Ice Fishing
    • Boating
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Water Skiing
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • State Park
    • Museum
    • Amusement Park
    • Antiquing

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Erie?

    Lake Erie has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Perch
    • Salmon
    • Smallmouth Bass
    • Steelhead Trout
    • Walleye
    • Yellow Perch
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Erie

    If you’re considering a Lake Erie lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a Lake Erie Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Erie lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Erie Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Not Dammed

    Surface Area: 6,261,500 acres

    Shoreline Length: 871 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 569 feet

    Average Depth: 62 feet

    Maximum Depth: 210 feet

    Water Volume: 391,987,200 acre-feet

    Water Residence Time: 2.6 years

    Lake Area-Population: 12,000,000

    Drainage Area: 30,140 sq. miles

    Lake Erie Map

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