GREAT LAKES CRUISES
  • Cruise the Great Lakes
    • Lake Superior Cruises
    • Lake Michigan Cruises
    • Lake Huron Cruises
    • Lake Erie Cruises
    • Lake Ontario Cruises
    • St. Lawrence Seaway Cruises
    • Great Lakes Attractions
  • Great Lakes Cruise Lines
    • Victory Cruise Lines
    • Pearl Seas Cruises
    • Viking Expedition Cruises
    • Windstar Cruises
    • Ponant Explorer Cruises
    • Hapag Lloyd Cruises
    • Blount Small Ship Adventures
  • Cruise Itineraries
    • Canada/St. Lawrence Cruise Itineraries >
      • Victory 11 Day - Canadian Crown Jewels
      • Victory 13 Day - Canada's Southern Coast Itinerary
      • Pearl Seas 16 Day - Canadian Maritime & St Lawrence Seaway
      • Pearl Seas 11 Day - Canada & New England Fall Foliage
      • Viking 13 Day - Canadian Discovery Cruise (2022)
    • Great Lakes Cruise Itineraries >
      • Victory 16 Day - Great Lakes Lakeside Treasures
      • Blount 16 Day - Great American Waterways
      • Blount 14 Day - Locks, Legends & Canals
      • Victory 13 Day - Great Lakes Grand Discovery
      • Pearl Seas 12 Day - Great Lakes & Georgian Bay
      • Victory 11 Day - Splendor of the Great Lakes
      • Ponant 11 Day - Discover the St. Lawrence River Cruise
      • Victory 9 Day - Great Lakes Masterpiece
      • Pearl Seas 8 Day - Great Lakes Cruise
      • Ponant 8 Day - Great Lakes of North America
      • Viking 8 Day - Niagara & the Great Lakes Cruise (2022)
      • Viking 8 Day - Undiscovered Great Lakes Cruise (2022)
      • Viking 8 Day - Great Lakes Explorer Cruise (2022)
  • Destinations
    • Illinois Cruises >
      • Chicago IL Cruises
    • Maine Cruises >
      • Bar Harbor Maine Cruises
      • Portland ME Cruises
    • Maritime Provinces Canada Cruises >
      • Charlottetown PEI CN Cruises
      • Halifax Nova Scotia CN Cruises
    • Massachusetts Cruises >
      • Boston Mass Cruises
    • Michigan Cruises >
      • Detroit MI Cruises
      • Holland MI Cruises
      • Houghton MI Cruises
      • Mackinac Island MI Cruises
      • Marquette MI Cruises
      • Muskegon MI Cruises
      • Sault Sainte Marie MI Cruises
    • Minnesota Cruises >
      • Duluth MN Cruises
    • New York Cruises >
      • Alexandria Bay NY Cruises
      • Amsterdam NY Cruises
      • Buffalo NY Cruises
      • Clayton NY Cruises
      • Kingston NY Cruises
      • Niagara Falls NY Cruises
      • Oswego NY Cruises
      • Sylvan Beach NY Cruises
    • Ohio Cruises >
      • Cleveland OH Cruises
    • Ontario Cruises >
      • Little Current ON Cruises
      • Midland, ON Cruises
      • Niagara Falls ON Cruises
      • Niagara on the Lake ON Cruises
      • Parry Sound ON Cruises
      • Sault Sainte Marie ON Cruises
      • Thunder Bay ON Cruises
      • Toronto ON Cruises
    • Quebec Cruises >
      • Gaspé QC Cruises
      • Montreal QC Cruises
      • Quebec City QC Cruises
      • Tadoussac, Quebec
    • Thousand Island Cruises
    • Wisconsin Cruises >
      • Apostle Islands WI Cruises
      • Green Bay WI Cruises
      • Milwaukee WI Cruises
      • Sturgeon Bay WI Cruises
    • Great Lakes Highlights >
      • Great Lakes Lighthouses
      • Great Lakes Locks and Canals
      • Majestic Skylines
      • Natural Wonders
      • Native American Cultures of the Great Lakes Region
      • Great Lakes Literary History
      • Great Lakes Sporting Arms
      • Great Lakes Cruising Coalition
  • Request a Quote
  • Contact
  • Great Lakes Expert Advice
  • Great Lakes Cruise News

Lake Ontario Cruises

Lake Ontario General Facts

Picture
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 History

The 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 Economy

Lake 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 Ecosystems

The 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.
  • Imperial
  • Metric
<
>

Lake Ontario
​By the Numbers

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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Great American Waterways Itinerary
  • Locks, Legends & Canals Itinerary

Viking Expeditions
  • Canadian Discovery Cruise Itinerary
  • Niagara & the Great Lakes Itinerary

Ponant Expeditions
  • Discover the St. Lawrence River Cruise Itinerary
  • Great Lakes of North America Itinerary

DESTINATIONS

Explore Great Lakes destinations on Lake Ontario

  • Niagara on the Lake, Ontario Cruises
  • Toronto, Ontario Cruises

Our Site

Great Lakes Cruises
​
2021 Great Lakes Cruises
2022 Great Lakes Cruises
2023 Great Lakes Cruises
Great Lakes Destinations
Great Lakes Cruise Itineraries
Great Lakes Cruise Lines
Request a Quote 
Great Lakes Attractions
Great Lakes Cruise Expert Advice
Picture

Our Company

About
​Subscribe
​
Contact Us
Yucatan Cruises
​Cuba Cruises
​New England Cruises
© COPYRIGHT 2021
​ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
 GREAT LAKES CRUISES
Part of the Authentic Voyages Group
9524 E 81st Street, Suite B1721
Tulsa OK 74133
​Toll Free: +1-888-756-9008
Phone: +1-918-393-2900
​Email: info@GreatLakesCruises.com
  • Cruise the Great Lakes
    • Lake Superior Cruises
    • Lake Michigan Cruises
    • Lake Huron Cruises
    • Lake Erie Cruises
    • Lake Ontario Cruises
    • St. Lawrence Seaway Cruises
    • Great Lakes Attractions
  • Great Lakes Cruise Lines
    • Victory Cruise Lines
    • Pearl Seas Cruises
    • Viking Expedition Cruises
    • Windstar Cruises
    • Ponant Explorer Cruises
    • Hapag Lloyd Cruises
    • Blount Small Ship Adventures
  • Cruise Itineraries
    • Canada/St. Lawrence Cruise Itineraries >
      • Victory 11 Day - Canadian Crown Jewels
      • Victory 13 Day - Canada's Southern Coast Itinerary
      • Pearl Seas 16 Day - Canadian Maritime & St Lawrence Seaway
      • Pearl Seas 11 Day - Canada & New England Fall Foliage
      • Viking 13 Day - Canadian Discovery Cruise (2022)
    • Great Lakes Cruise Itineraries >
      • Victory 16 Day - Great Lakes Lakeside Treasures
      • Blount 16 Day - Great American Waterways
      • Blount 14 Day - Locks, Legends & Canals
      • Victory 13 Day - Great Lakes Grand Discovery
      • Pearl Seas 12 Day - Great Lakes & Georgian Bay
      • Victory 11 Day - Splendor of the Great Lakes
      • Ponant 11 Day - Discover the St. Lawrence River Cruise
      • Victory 9 Day - Great Lakes Masterpiece
      • Pearl Seas 8 Day - Great Lakes Cruise
      • Ponant 8 Day - Great Lakes of North America
      • Viking 8 Day - Niagara & the Great Lakes Cruise (2022)
      • Viking 8 Day - Undiscovered Great Lakes Cruise (2022)
      • Viking 8 Day - Great Lakes Explorer Cruise (2022)
  • Destinations
    • Illinois Cruises >
      • Chicago IL Cruises
    • Maine Cruises >
      • Bar Harbor Maine Cruises
      • Portland ME Cruises
    • Maritime Provinces Canada Cruises >
      • Charlottetown PEI CN Cruises
      • Halifax Nova Scotia CN Cruises
    • Massachusetts Cruises >
      • Boston Mass Cruises
    • Michigan Cruises >
      • Detroit MI Cruises
      • Holland MI Cruises
      • Houghton MI Cruises
      • Mackinac Island MI Cruises
      • Marquette MI Cruises
      • Muskegon MI Cruises
      • Sault Sainte Marie MI Cruises
    • Minnesota Cruises >
      • Duluth MN Cruises
    • New York Cruises >
      • Alexandria Bay NY Cruises
      • Amsterdam NY Cruises
      • Buffalo NY Cruises
      • Clayton NY Cruises
      • Kingston NY Cruises
      • Niagara Falls NY Cruises
      • Oswego NY Cruises
      • Sylvan Beach NY Cruises
    • Ohio Cruises >
      • Cleveland OH Cruises
    • Ontario Cruises >
      • Little Current ON Cruises
      • Midland, ON Cruises
      • Niagara Falls ON Cruises
      • Niagara on the Lake ON Cruises
      • Parry Sound ON Cruises
      • Sault Sainte Marie ON Cruises
      • Thunder Bay ON Cruises
      • Toronto ON Cruises
    • Quebec Cruises >
      • Gaspé QC Cruises
      • Montreal QC Cruises
      • Quebec City QC Cruises
      • Tadoussac, Quebec
    • Thousand Island Cruises
    • Wisconsin Cruises >
      • Apostle Islands WI Cruises
      • Green Bay WI Cruises
      • Milwaukee WI Cruises
      • Sturgeon Bay WI Cruises
    • Great Lakes Highlights >
      • Great Lakes Lighthouses
      • Great Lakes Locks and Canals
      • Majestic Skylines
      • Natural Wonders
      • Native American Cultures of the Great Lakes Region
      • Great Lakes Literary History
      • Great Lakes Sporting Arms
      • Great Lakes Cruising Coalition
  • Request a Quote
  • Contact
  • Great Lakes Expert Advice
  • Great Lakes Cruise News