Ontario's Natural Resources - Water and Lakes

Water

Ontario's quarter million lakes and countless rivers and streams played a central role in the province's history and development. For Aboriginal peoples and the early European settlers, the lakes and rivers were a means of transportation and a source for food. Waterways determined the patterns of settlement as well as the patterns of industrialization. In the early 20th century, Ontario Hydro began harnessing the awesome power of the Niagara Falls to provide reliable electricity to homes and businesses.

The Great Lakes

The Great Lakes are Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. Combined, these lakes hold one-fifth of the world's fresh surface water. The five Great Lakes, four of which straddle the border between Canada and the United States (U.S.), are the world's biggest continuous body of fresh water. A Canada/U.S. commission jointly manages the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Basin covers an area of 750,000 square kilometres; this basin includes eight U.S. states, most of southern Ontario and extends into northern Ontario. The Great Lakes support 33 million people, including nine million Canadians and eight of Canada's 20 largest cities. The lakes provide drinking water to 8.5 million Canadians. The combined shoreline of the Great Lakes is equal to about 45 per cent of the earth's circumference. The Great Lakes support 45 per cent of Canada's industrial capacity and 25 per cent of its agricultural capacity, and contribute $180 billion to Canada-U.S. trade annually. The lakes sustain a $100 million commercial fishing industry and a $350 million recreational fishing industry and every year 1.5 million recreational boaters enjoy the Great Lakes.

Websites of Interest:

• You can visit the Water site from Environment Canada.
• You can visit the Great Lakes site from Environment Canada or you can visit their Great Lakes Kids site.