Lake Ontario

Lake Ontario borders Canada on its north, west, and southeastern edges, and the state of New York on its south and eastern edges. It is situated furthest west of the five Great Lakes. Lake Ontario’s primary basin is the Niagara River to the southwest, which connects it to Lake Erie. To the northeast, it flows into the Saint Lawrence River and towards the Atlantic Ocean.The Great Lakes are the site of the Ainishinaabe migration from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. The second major stopping point was at the Ani-mi-kee’ wa-bu (the place of the Thunder Water), which is presently Niagara Falls. In Huron, the name Ontarí'io means "great lake," and French colonizers later called the lake Cataraqui, which was adapted from the mohawk word Katarowkim which means “a place where there is clay”. Lake Ontario is known for its high biodiversity. The surrounding sand dunes and freshwater marshes along the lake’s perimeter are very important to the health of the ecosystem. They work to stabilize the shoreline and serve as home to various species of birds, fish, plants, and other animals. Deciduous forests, consisting of oak, ash, maple, and basswood, populate the surrounding region. Residential and industrial development has long been a threat to these environments. Resultingly, pollution has increased, and forest coverage has been cleared, causing temperatures and water levels to rise. In combination with aggressive invasive species, native populations have suffered, some beyond repair.