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Table of Contents
Lake Ontario is one of a chain of Great Lakes in North America. It is the smallest of the lakes by surface area but is an ecological wonder that provides a home to a wide diversity of species and water to approximately 9 million people.
See the fact file below for more information on Lake Ontario, or you can download our 26-page Lake Ontario worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
GEOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND
- The five interconnected lakes in North America, Lake Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, form the Great Lake of North America or the Laurentian Great Lakes. Lake Ontario is the smallest, most easterly, and the last in the chain of the five Great Lakes.
- The roughly elliptical lake is bounded on the north by Ontario in Canada and on the south by New York in the U.S.A. Being the last of the Great Lakes, the water flows through this lake, allowing fish to travel back and forth from the Atlantic Ocean to the freshwater lakes.
- It receives most of its water from the Niagara River, which connects to the other Great Lakes. The water then discharges on the eastern end through the St. Lawrence River, which expels water to the Atlantic Ocean.
- About 7,000 years ago, the First Nations, or the Indigenous People in Canada, were the first to live in the watershed. They have not continuously settled though people have lived on the northern part of the shore for a long time. The name Lake Ontario comes from the Iroquoian language, which means “lake of shining waters.”
- In 1615, the Huron-Wendat abandoned the northern shore of Lake Ontario after developing a distinct homeland in the 15th century to move north toward Georgian Bay. But in the first half of the 17th century, the Huron was raided by Iroquois, which helped them establish control over the hunting grounds between Lake Ontario and Lake Simcoe.
HISTORY AND CIVILIZATION IN LAKE ONTARIO
- Economic reasons are considered the strongest motivation for why the Iroquois began migrating to the northern shores of the lake, as they would be able to control the trading of furs from north and west towards Albany and Montreal.
- Seven Iroquois settlements were established on the northern shores of Lake Ontario between 1665 and 1670. The seven villages from east to west are as follows: Ganneious (on the site of present-day Napanee), Kente (on the Bay of Quinte), Kentsio (on Rice Lake), Ganaraske (on the site of present-day Port Hope), Ganatsekwyagon (at the mouth of the Rouge River), Teiaiagon (at the mouth of the Humber River), and Quinaouatoua(near Hamilton). The estimated size of each village varies from 500 to 800 persons.
- Little is known about the culture of the Iroquoian people, but records of French missionaries who spent many years living with them provided information about their lifestyle.
- The Iroquoian people built and lived in longhouses. These are long, narrow, and rectangular in shape, with a door opening at both ends. Palisades also surrounded their village to protect them from wild animals and invaders.
- In the present day, Lake Ontario provides a home for a variety of wildlife and a diversity of habitats. Surrounding the lake are dunes, forests, wetlands, and rocky cliffs, which house thousands of plants and animal species.
- Among the Great Lakes, only Lake Ontario does not border the state of Michigan, as it is situated between Lake Erie and the St. Lawrence River. Approximately 20,000 years ago, the Laurentide Glacier that once covered Canada started to melt. It left behind Lake Iroquois, but the water rushed into the Atlantic Ocean as the glacier in the St. Lawrence River melted away. For thousands of years, the erosion of soft Silurian rocks broadened the small stream into present-day Lake Ontario.
PROMINENT FEATURES AROUND THE LAKE
- Many unique landscapes are found around the lake. The most prominent spectacle is Niagara Falls, which plunges down from the Niagara River with a 360 feet drop. About 85% of Lake Ontario’s water comes from the Niagara River.
- Three falls collectively form Niagara Falls. The largest of the three is the Horseshoe Falls also known as the Canadian Falls. And the smaller American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls lie within the United States.
- Low bluffs with narrow beaches are also abundant on the lake’s shoreline. There are approximately 100 beaches and 2,000 islands straddling the Canada-US border as you travel around the lake.
- Experience the breathtaking sunrise on the Canadian side of the St. Lawrence River and end your day with a beautiful sunset from the United States. On the northeast corner of Lake Ontario, the Thousand Islands region is an archipelago in the St. Lawrence River with 1,864 diverse islands.
- The islands provide mysterious charms stemming from the seclusion afforded by aquatic separation from mainland events. Most of the islands are open for public viewing, although almost all of them are privately owned.
- One major tourist attraction in the Thousand Islands region is the Boldt Castle, located on Heart Island. Despite the glorious facade, the magnificent castle has a tragic history.
- In 1900, the American millionaire George Boldt ordered the construction of the castle as the ultimate present for his wife, Louise Boldt.
- But in 1904, at 31, Louise Boldt unexpectedly died, leaving the heartbroken George Boldt to stop the construction of the Heart Castle.
- The castle was left standing for over a century and then renovated into a tourist attraction.
- Apart from surrounding natural attractions and extensive beaches, the climate, fertile soil, and water from Lake Ontario are conducive for growing fruit trees. Agricultural and rural lands dominate most Lake Ontario watersheds, with some urban centers along the coast. The two major industrial centers and heavily urbanized areas, Hamilton and Toronto, are located on the western side of the lake.
- In general, the region around the Great Lakes is known for its diverse and bountiful agricultural production. Around Lake Ontario, the central fruit-growing area is on the southern part of the Canadian and U.S. sides.
- Various types of fruits are cultivated. Some of the most abundant are grapes, apples, peaches, cherries, pears, and plums. Wineries and vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, and commercial orchards are the main drivers of the local economy.
- Due to its strategic location, Lake Ontario hosts various migratory birds. Ducks, swans, geese, grebes, loons, and other waterfowl are among the wildlife that resides on the lake.
- Birds of prey, such as eagles and hawks, can also be sighted in the area.
- As the only Great Lake with direct access to the Atlantic Ocean, it is home to various fish species. Some of the fish in the water of Lake Ontario are Walleye, Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Atlantic Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Steelhead Trout, and invasive mussels that cover the bottom of the lake in coastal areas. Due to its location, it was also the first to be colonized by Atlantic ocean invaders such as Sea Lamprey and Alewife. These cause a decline in the number of native species in the lake.
- But the major contributor to the decline of fish in Lake Ontario was overfishing in the 1800s and the pollution caused by industrialization in the 1900s.
- Because of human intervention, at least 10 species of fish have become extinct, including the American eel, which used to be the most common fish in the lake. Overfishing and building dams and man-made barriers are believed to cause the rapid decline of eels in the lake.
Lake Ontario Worksheets
This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Lake Ontario across 26 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about Lake Ontario, one of a chain of Great Lakes in North America.
Complete List of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Lake Ontario Facts
- Scrabble Dabble
- The Iroquoian People
- Iroquoian Builders
- What’s Great About the Great Lakes?
- I’m the Map!
- Is it True?
- Between the Two
- VIEWtiful
- Something Fishy
- Protecting the Great Lakes
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lake Ontario known for?
Around 9 million people from Canada and New York State depend on Lake Ontario as their primary source of drinking water. In addition, this lake is a vital resource for numerous populations, helping them meet their hydration needs.
Is it OK to swim in Lake Ontario?
Due to the lack of lifeguards and beach maintenance, swimming is not advised on Lake Ontario until 2023. The water levels can be unpredictable with hazardous rip currents or high waves, so it’s best to avoid caution when considering a plunge in these treacherous waters.
Who owns Lake Ontario?
The majestic Great Lakes—Erie, Huron, Ontario, and Superior—are shared between the U.S. and Canada.
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Link will appear as Lake Ontario Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, December 22, 2022
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.