Lying on the international border between the United States and Canada, Lake Erie is the farthest south of the five Great Lakes. It is bordered by the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan, and by the Canadian province of Ontario.
Its length is about 240 miles and its maximum width is about 57 miles. A shallow lake, its maximum depth is only 210 feet. Lake Erie lies between Lake Ontario and Lake Huron. It receives waters of Lake Huron successively through the St Clair River, Lake St Clair, and the Detroit River. It drains through the Niagara River into Lake Ontario. Shipping travels from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario by the Welland Canal. The New York State Canal Barge System joins Lake Erie with the Hudson River and thence the Atlantic Ocean.
The Battle of Lake Erie was one of the principal battles of the War of 1812.