Natural World

Lake Erie is full of contrasts, some more obvious than others. Exciting big-city ports and tranquil historic harbors. Rolling farmlands and vineyards, and acres of marshes and swamps. Sun-kissed waves and spectacular spikes of ice pushed against the shore in a fortress of staggering proportions. Massive Great Lakes freighters carrying goods to the world and tiny songbirds, weighting less than a nickel, who’ve traveled from the rainforests. Like all living things, Lake Erie is ever-changing. Throughout its life, our Great Lake adapted to changes in climate and water levels, changes to its nearshore habitats, and finally, in more recent years, changes caused by man. It will never stay the same. Nature doesn’t work that way; it struggles to survive.

Our lake shapes who we are. Our industry. Our landscapes. Our culture. And, in return, we shape its future.

People working together. Communities who care. The remarkable turnaround of Lake Erie is a shining example of what can be accomplished when people work together and commit resources for change.

Grounded by Geology
Nature, in particular the geology of the region, gave Lake Erie the foundation for its size and shape. Geological differences created the soft and hard places out of which glaciers gouged the Great Lakes as they completed their march some 12,000 years ago. Different geological processes and the glaciers contributed to Lake Erie's industrial and urban development with deposits of precious minerals such as coal. Ground by glaciers, rocks also contribute to the soil, influencing the location and types of agriculture pursued by early settlers and today's farmers. These geological differences altered the Lake Erie landscape all along the coast. Explore these landscapes through these pages, and then experience them yourself by visiting some of the sites.

Wetlands
Just 200 years ago, the 1,500-square-mile Great Black Swamp dominated northwest Ohio and downtown Cleveland was covered in a dark, murky swamp forest. Today, more than 90 percent of Ohio's wetlands are gone, most having been drained or filled for farming and residential use. Despite this loss, Lake Erie's coastal wetlands still support the largest diversity of plant and animals on the Great Lakes

Rivers and Streams
Lake Erie's tributaries have been called its "arteries" because of their impact on the lake's health. Although more than 50% of the Great Lakes water level is influenced by precipitation, rivers and streams introduce runoffs from factories, farms and homes within the Lake Erie watershed.

Prairies and Savannas
The glacial actions that formed Lake Erie left the coastal area with some of the richest soils in the nation. This allowed unique grasslands and savannas to thrive, such as oak savannas, wet prairies, lakeshore grasslands and sand barrens. The land also set the foundation for patchworks of prairies, leftovers of the great plains of the west which once visited Ohio.

Glacial Islands
More than two dozen islands appear throughout the Western Basin, from tiny outcroppings that come and go with the fall and rise of water levels, to the largest of the bunch, Pelee Island in Canada. Similar in their isolation and climate, the islands are quite different from one another because of the geological forces that contributed to their shape and soil.

Forests and Farmlands
The glacial action that dug Lake Erie also created deep hills and valleys, providing many opportunities for hiking, biking, wildife viewing, and discovery. Explore our forests, taste the fruits of our land and experience our winemaking belt.

Lakes and Beaches
The lakes and beaches of Lake Erie and its inland region are enjoyed by young and old alike, and provide a place for solitude and reflection. Whether its a Lake Erie beach or an inland lake created by the glaciers, this region's freshwater access is one of its greatest resources.

Related Links:
Lake Erie Fact Sheet produced by Ohio Sea Grant
http://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/_documents/publications/FS/FS-087%20Lake%20Erie%20Facts.pdf

“Lake Erie: Our Great Lake” produced by WGTE Public Television
http://www.wgte.org/lakeerie/