Lake Ontario: Maps, Facts and Figures

Abstract

Lake Ontario, the 14th largest lake in the world, is the smallest of the Great Lakes. Bordered to the north by Ontario, Canada, and to the south by New York State, it is the smallest in surface area, fourth among the Great Lakes in maximum depth, but second only to Lake Superior in average depth. The basin land area is largely rural with a significant forested and agricultural portion. The Lake is nestled between the mighty Niagara River to the west...and the picturesque St. Lawrence River Valley to its east. Almost one-third of the land area of New York State drains into Lake Ontario, making the wise use and management of natural resources vital to the long-term sustainability of the Lake Ontario region's ecology, environment and economy. This booklet is designed to provide those who live, work, and play along Lake Ontario with an overview of the use and management that occurs within the drainage basin. we encourage you to use this booklet to add to your understanding of the issues impacting the Lake and your management and planning activities. The Finger Lakes- Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance in partnership with New York Sea Grant developed this booklet and has made every effort to insure that the information is accurate. The maps provided were provided by the Lake Ontario Coastal Initiative (LOCI) with permission for their use. This information is provided for educational purposes only.