Lake Erie Facts: Size, Depth and Shoreline
Lake Erie is the shallowest of the five Great Lakes, with an average depth of about 62 feet (19 meters) and a maximum of about 210 feet (64 meters). It is also the smallest by volume, which is why it warms faster in summer and freezes more readily in winter than its deeper neighbors.
The figures below come from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s table of Great Lakes physical features, which uses measurements taken at low water. Other agencies sometimes publish slightly different numbers, depending on the water level and survey method.
Lake Erie at a glance
| Feature | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Average depth | 62 feet (19 m) |
| Maximum depth | 210 feet (64 m) |
| Water volume | 116 cubic miles (484 cubic km) |
| Water surface area | 9,910 square miles (25,700 square km) |
| Shoreline length (including islands) | 871 miles (1,402 km) |
| Retention time | about 2.6 years |
Retention time is the average time a drop of water stays in the lake before flowing out. For Lake Erie it is short, because the lake is shallow and receives a large inflow, mainly from the upper Great Lakes through the Detroit River.
Where the lake is
Lake Erie is the southernmost of the Great Lakes. It is bordered by the U.S. states of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, and by the Canadian province of Ontario. Major cities on its shores include Toledo, Cleveland, Erie and Buffalo in the United States, and several smaller communities in Ontario.
Water flows in from Lake Huron through the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River. It leaves through the Niagara River, passing over Niagara Falls on its way to Lake Ontario.
Why shallow matters
Because the lake is shallow, it responds quickly to weather:
- Warm summers: the water warms faster, which supports fish growth but also encourages algae.
- Ice cover: the lake is the most likely of the Great Lakes to freeze over in a cold winter, though ice cover varies greatly from year to year.
- Storm surges and seiches: strong winds can push water toward one end of the lake, raising levels at one shore and lowering them at the other. This sloshing is known as a seiche.
These changes can be dramatic enough to affect harbors and shoreline communities.
Three basins
Lake Erie is often described in three parts: the shallow western basin near Toledo and the Detroit River, the central basin that is the largest, and the deeper eastern basin near Buffalo and Long Point. The deepest water lies in the eastern basin, close to the maximum depth listed above.
Water quality and wildlife
Because of its shallow depth and the farmland and cities around it, the lake is sensitive to nutrient runoff. In summer, algal blooms have been a recurring issue in the western basin, and government agencies monitor and report on them. The details are best taken from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the EPA, which issue seasonal forecasts and updates.
The lake is nonetheless valued for fisheries, including walleye and yellow perch, and for the migrating birds that use its shores. Presque Isle, the sandy peninsula at Erie, Pennsylvania, is a well-known example of a coastal habitat on the lake.
Compared with the other Great Lakes
Lake Superior holds the most water by far, about 2,900 cubic miles according to the EPA table, while Lake Erie holds 116. In surface area Erie ranks fourth among the five, ahead of Lake Ontario. Erie is the shallowest in both average and maximum depth.
Frequently asked questions
How deep is Lake Erie?
The average depth is about 62 feet (19 meters) and the maximum depth about 210 feet (64 meters). The deepest section is in the eastern basin.
Is Lake Erie the smallest Great Lake?
It is the smallest by volume and the shallowest, but not the smallest by surface area. Lake Ontario has a smaller surface area, although it is much deeper.
Does Lake Erie freeze?
It can freeze over substantially in cold winters, more often than the other Great Lakes, but the amount of ice varies from year to year.
Which states touch Lake Erie?
Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. The Canadian province of Ontario is on the northern shore.
More on the area
Facts about the lake help explain why the nearby city developed as a port. The story of that city is outlined in a short history of Erie, Pennsylvania, and the home page lists the rest of the site.