Among North America’s five Great Lakes, which has the smallest surface area?

Lake Ontario has the smallest surface area of North America’s five Great Lakes.

Lake Ontario covers about 18,960 square kilometres, making it smaller by surface area than Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Superior. Despite its relatively small surface area, it is the 14th-largest lake in the world by surface area and holds a substantial volume because it is deeper than Lake Erie.

The lake lies between Ontario, Canada, and New York, United States. Its name comes from an Indigenous term traditionally interpreted as meaning “lake of shining waters.” The city of Toronto stands on its northwestern shore, while Rochester and Kingston are also important lakeside cities.

Lake Ontario is the final Great Lake in the drainage route to the Atlantic Ocean. Water flows from Lake Erie through the Niagara River, passes over Niagara Falls, enters Lake Ontario, and then continues through the Saint Lawrence River. It should not be confused with nearby Lake Erie, which has the smallest volume among the Great Lakes.