Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is the 14th largest lake in the world by surface area. It is also the smallest and easternmost of the Great Lakes.
- Surface Area: With a surface area of 18,960 square kilometers Lake Ontario is roughly elliptical in shape. It has a length of 310.6 kilometers.
- Volume: Lake Ontario is the third deepest Great Lake after Lakes Superior and Michigan with a maximum depth of 802 feet. The average depth is 283 feet, and has a flushing time of about six years.
- Location: Lake Ontario is bordered to the north, west, and southwest by Ontario, and to the south and east by New York. The Canada–United States border runs through the middle of the lake.
- Drainage: The drainage basin of the Lake Ontario is 24,720 square miles. The primary source of water to the lake is Niagara River, which drains Lake Erie. Other rivers that feed into Lake Ontario include: Genesee River, Oswego River, Trent river, and Black River. The lake finallly drains into the St. Lawrence River.
Five Great Lakes of North America
The five Great Lakes of North America are Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. The Great Lakes are a chain of deep freshwater lakes that cover 94,250 square miles and contain 21% of the world’s surface freshwater. Lake Superior, the largest and northernmost, is shared by the United States and Canada.
Lake Michigan is the only one entirely within the U.S., while Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario straddle the U.S.-Canada border. These lakes form a vital freshwater ecosystem with economic and ecological significance.
In this article, we will explore five great lakes of North America, along with their surface area, volume, and location.
Table of Content
- What are the Five Great Lakes of North America?
- Five Great Lakes of North America on Map
- List of Five Great Lakes of North America
- Lake Superior
- Lake Michigan
- Lake Huron
- Lake Erie
- Lake Ontario