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Lake
Erie and Area (19-6) By
Craig Ritchie
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Cruise
at idle to savor this region's sweet offerings.
Ontario’s southernmost waterway, Lake Erie
is a boater’s playground rich in history and ripe
with natural treasures just awaiting discovery.
It’s the shallowest and fourth largest of the
five Great Lakes, with a length of 387 kilometers and
width of 91 kilometers. With an average depth of just
62 feet, Lake Erie is the only Great Lake with a bottom
completely above sea level. The lake is fed at its shallow
northwest end from Lake St. Clair via the Detroit River,
and drained in the east by the Niagara River. In all,
the Ontario portion of Lake Erie covers more than 7,934
square kilometers.
 Much
of Erie sits south of the 42nd parallel, at approximately
the same latitude as northern California. This combination
of warm climate and fertile shores make the region home
to a wide variety of plants and wildlife, including
many species found nowhere else in Canada. During the
spring and fall, hundreds of species of birds and butterflies
migrate across Lake Erie on their annual migrations.
The best place to see this natural marvel is at Point
Pelee National Park, on the western end of the lake,
located approximately 48 kilometers southeast of Windsor.
The southernmost tip of land on mainland Canada, the
area is also home to more than 70 species of trees alone.
Nowhere else in the country are there more variety species
of reptiles (27), amphibians (20) and spiders and insects
(50). Bird life abounds, including the rare Acadian
flycatchers, Carolina wrens, blue-gray gnatcatchers,
red-bellied woodpeckers and yellow-breasted chats. But
there’s more to this area than its natural wildlife.
In the summer, Point Pelee is an active community offering
a unique and exciting experience.
Extensive sandy beaches line its east shoreline providing
excellent swimming and a perfect place to relax after
a long day at the helm. For the little more adventurous,
the diving here is excellent. In fact, since the mid
1800’s, over 275 shipwrecks have occurred in Pelee
Passage, a small chapter of Erie located between the
south shore of Essex County and Pelee Island. While
only 50 wrecks have been discovered, they are yours
to explore and can be found just off the shoreline of
Leamington. The majority of wrecks are in water as deep
as 40 feet, with the deepest being Willis wreck, which
rests at more than 70 feet. Tours of the region’s
award-winning wineries, several amenities and scenic
anchorages make this summer paradise an area to explore
again and again.
Farming remains an important industry along Lake Erie’s
shores today. The community of Leamington, situated
just west of Long Point, is famous as Canada’s
tomato capital and even has a huge tomato as its official
town information booth. A busy commercial center, there’s
a marina with a length capacity of 120 feet and is complete
with overnight dockage, pump-out facilities, a launch
ramp, fuel as well as shorepower. Simply moor here for
a night and take in Leamington’s great shopping,
dining, entertainment or check out the Leamington Arts
Centre in the old Post Office/Customs building.
Just off the tip of the point, Pelee Island is famous
for its world-class wineries. In fact, it’s located
on the same latitude as the prestigious wine regions
of the world, including Napa Valley, California, Portugal,
Spain, Italy, Germany and France. The Island has an
area of about 11,000 acres, much of it devoted to grape
production for the island’s excellent Cabernet
Sauvignons, Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and Rieslings.
A main road stretches around the perimeter of the island
and boasts excellent bicycle/walking trails offering
wonderful views of the lake and vineyards.
 East
of Pelee, you can see one of the world’s most
outstanding sand spits in Rondeau Provincial Park, where
centuries of wave action shaped unique sand ridges and
sloughs. These sand dunes continue underwater, providing
homes for a huge variety of fish. In fact, Lake Erie
may be Canada’s best-kept secret fishing hole.
Wet a line here and you can enjoy spectacular excitement
chasing trophy-size bass, walleye or rainbow trout.
Smallmouth bass regularly top the five-pound mark while
walleye and trout reach twice that size. Local bait
shops and charter boats are more than happy to tell
you where to go and offer tips to hook that big one.
Situated nearby is the town of Erieau. There’s
a full service marina offering fuel, transient docking,
a restaurant plus a launch ramp. To stock up on supplies
or groceries, the town site is short distance away.
If you have time, it’s worth the drive to the
scenic municipality of Chatham-Kent. (Page
Top)
The historic community of Port Stanley, a short distance
to the east, offers transient docks, a restaurant and
service if required. Railroad buffs will be happy to
learn the Port Stanley Terminal Rail operates over a
scenic seven-mile portion of the former London &
Port Stanley Railway line, between Port Stanley and
St. Thomas, Ontario. This historic section of line,
built in the mid-1800s, is fully restored, complete
with two historic stations. Many young people today
have never had the opportunity to ride the rails, so
bring the whole family for a train ride. Choose a seat
in an open coach for an unobstructed view while crossing
two bridges or traversing the boat-lined banks of Kettle
Creek. Deer are also commonly spotted in the apple orchards
along the way.
The greatest natural feature on Lake Erie’s north
shore is Long Point, an enormous sand spit that juts
more than 32 kilometers into the lake. Designated as
a United Nations Biosphere Reserve, this expansive sand
spit is known for its lush Carolinian vegetation and
shoreline marshes. Long Point Provincial Park protects
much of this natural area from development, preserving
it for everyone’s enjoyment. Sport divers flock
to the Long Point region every year. Lake Erie’s
surprisingly clear water (look over the side of your
boat and you can see the bottom to depths of 30 feet
or more) makes it a top destination for everyone from
swimmers with a snorkel and mask to serious scuba enthusiasts.
Superb beaches exist nearby at adjacent Turkey Point,
where there is another large provincial park of the
same name. The only provincial park with a golf course,
Turkey Point is a naturalist’s paradise. Its diverse
ecosystem includes marshes, bluffs and oak savanna.
Hiking trails lead to a fish hatchery and magnificent,
panoramic views of Lake Erie. Definitely bring a camera
for this venture. Golfers can hit the links at the nearby
Greens of Renton or Woodside Greens courses or choose
to hike along the picturesque Lynn Valley Trail.
 Situated
near the east end of Lake Erie, at the southern terminus
of the Welland Canal, is the thriving community of Port
Colborne. Well-groomed golf courses, dining, shopping,
pools and miles of sandy beaches – including the
nearby Sherkston Shores with more than one mile of white,
sandy beachfront – are just some of the attractions.
The area also hosts several events each summer including
Canal Days, a beach volleyball tournament, the Showboat
Theatre plus the popular Canal Fest - Antique Car &
Craft Show.
Lock Eight, near the entrance to the Welland Canal,
is one of the longest locks in the world. The annual
Canal Days Festival is a community-wide celebration
of Port Colborne’s marine heritage. Each year
hundreds of people gather for this waterfront family
festival that includes tall ship cruises, fireworks,
multi-cultural food, kids zone, heritage displays and
much more.
Between Port Colborne and the eastern tip of the lake
is Fort Erie, offering two marinas. Boasting a rich
heritage, tradition, history and modern city services,
Fort Erie is a year-round home for approximately 30,000
people and hosts miles of beautiful beaches plus a number
of renowned festivals.
With so much to see and do, it’s easy to see why
so many people describe Lake Erie as the greatest of
the Great Lakes. (Page Top) |
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