What is the approximate average depth of Lake Erie?

The approximate average depth of Lake Erie is 19 metres (62 feet).

That average makes Lake Erie the shallowest of the five Great Lakes. Its bottom is uneven: the western basin is particularly shallow, while the eastern basin is deeper and approaches the lake’s outlet toward the Niagara River. The deepest point is about 64 metres (210 feet), so the average is much less than the maximum.

Lake Erie’s modest depth affects nearly every aspect of its behavior. It warms quickly during spring and summer, can cool rapidly in autumn, and is more likely than the deeper lakes to develop extensive winter ice. Shallow water also allows sunlight to reach a larger proportion of the lakebed, which can intensify the effects of nutrient pollution and encourage algal growth.

The average-depth figure is sometimes rounded to 19 metres or 62 feet depending on the source and unit system. Both express the same approximate measurement and are distinct from the lake’s maximum depth.