Lake Ontario General Facts
Lake Ontario is located right between Ontario, Canada and New York, USA. Its primary inflow is the Niagara River while its primary outflow is the St. Lawrence Seaway. The lake has a total surface area of 7,340 square mi and water volume of 393 cu mi; its water residence time is 6 years. Lake Ontario is the last Great Lakes of the chain before the St. Lawrence Seaway and its river mouth that flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Lake Ontario is the 13th largest lake in the world, and it was carved by the Wisconsin ice sheet back in the 2nd ice age. “Ontario” means “Great Lake” in Huron Language, and besides its evident historic roots, this region has been a key to the Great Lakes area development.
​Lake Ontario’s HistoryThe Wisconsin ice sheet carved what used to be the Ontarian River and turned it into a valley, which later converted into Lake Iroquois. When the ice finally retreated from the St. Lawrence Valley, Lake Iroquois turned into a bay, and subsequently into Lake Ontario. The gradual land rebound causes inundation in the south shore of the lake and several river valleys have turned into bays. Property owners in the area are aware of the danger this phenomenon is continuously causing, and have even lost some value over their land.
In the pre-columbian era, the river served as a border between the Huron and Iroquois natives. Later in the 1600s, the Iroquois invaded the Huron and settled in the northern shores of the Lake. The Iroquois left, and later the Anishnabeg, Ojibwa, and Mississaugas moved in and retained the Iroquois name. In 1615, the first European reached Lake Ontario. Lake Ontario changed names several times, as it was a usual practice by the European settlers; Lac de St. Louis and Lac Frontenac were a couple of relevant names during that time. Later on, the French and British established multiple trading forts. It wasn’t until 1794 that the U.S. took control of these ports after the signing of the Jay Treaty. The lake then became a hub for commercial activity due to its prime location; right between U.S. and Canada, and close to the Atlantic Ocean. ​Lake Ontario’s EconomyLake Ontario is a significant part of the 6-trillion-GDP Great Lakes Area Economy, a powerhouse on an international scale. The Ontario basin is home to ¼ of Canada’s population, and its primary economic activities include manufacturing, trading, fishing, and tourism. Its agricultural and industrial development has been significant, but it is causing a significant loss to the ecosystems in the region.
​Lake Ontario’s EcosystemsThe Lake Ontario region is home to multiple lagoons, harbors, and sand bars. This generates an important mix of conditions that results perfectly for the multiple species of flora and fauna that inhabit the region. The sandbars in the area create wetlands, which are an important base for migratory birds. There’s also a significant growth of deciduous forests, home to Oak, Maple, and Basswood trees. Other Lake Ontario native species include the Lake Trout and Walleye. These species are all endangered by invasive species such as Cattails, Lamprey, and Zebra Mussels. Not to mention, agriculture is causing a continuous deforestation in the area. This affects native species as well and has resulted in the loss of native birds and the extinction of Native Salmon. Like the rest of the Great Lakes, Lake Ontario struggles with overfishing, agricultural fertilizers, pollution, untreated sewage, and more ecology issues. These all affect the ecosystem chains in the region. The U.S. and Canada governments are aware of this growing issue. Therefore, the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement was created, and it takes part in protecting the biological integrity of this vital source.
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Lake Ontario
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Elevation |
243 ft |
Surface Area |
7,340 mi² |
Drainage Area |
24,720 mi² |
Volume of Water |
393 mi³ |
Avg Depth |
283 ft |
Max Depth |
802 ft |
Length (N-S) |
53 mi |
Length (E-W) |
193 mi |
Length of Shoreline |
712 mi |
Avg Surface Temp |
48º F |
Retention Time |
6 years |
Avg Outflow |
243,000 ft³/s |
Read more on the "Physical Features of the Great Lakes" from the EPA .
Lake Ontario
By the Numbers
Elevation |
74 m |
Surface Area |
18,960 km² |
Drainage Area |
64,030 km² |
Volume of Water |
1,640 km³ |
Avg Depth |
86 m |
Max Depth |
244 m |
Length (N-S) |
85 km |
Length (E-W) |
311 km |
Length of Shoreline |
1,146 km |
Avg Surface Temp |
9º C |
Retention Time |
6 years |
Avg Outflow |
6,881 m³/s |
Read more on the "Physical Features of the Great Lakes" from the EPA .
Ports of Call in Lake Ontario
- Prince Edward Island, Ontario
- Montreal, Quebec
- Quebec City, Quebec
- Toronto, Ontario
- Clayton, NY
- Rochester, NY
- Oswego, NY
- Thousand Islands
​Lake Ontario Attractions
Bays and Beaches
Parks and Nature
Historic Sites
- Toronto Bay
- Hamilton Harbour
- Irondequoit Bay
- Presqu’ile Bay
- Sodus Bay
- Bay of Quinte, iconic z-shaped bay that separates P.E.I. from Ontario’s mainland
Parks and Nature
- Sandbanks Provincial Park
- Sandy Island Beach State Park
Historic Sites
- Fort Frontenac
- Fort Oswego
- Fort Rouille
​Cruise Lines with Lake Ontario Itineraries
Victory Cruise Lines
Pearl Seas
Blount Small Ship Adventures
Viking Expeditions
Ponant Expeditions
- Canadian Crown Jewels Itinerary
- Canada's Southern Coast Itinerary
- Great Lakes Grand Discovery Itinerary
- Splendor of the Great Lakes Itinerary
Pearl Seas
- Canadian Maritime & St. Lawrence Seaway Itinerary
- Canada & New England Fall Foliage Itinerary
- Great Lakes and Georgian Bay Itinerary
- Great Lakes Cruise Itinerary
Blount Small Ship Adventures
Viking Expeditions
Ponant Expeditions
