Lake Erie is the shallowest Great Lake, with an average depth of about 19 metres.
It is the fourth-largest of North America’s five Great Lakes by surface area and lies between the United States and Canada. Its shallow basin allows sunlight to reach much of the lakebed, supporting substantial aquatic plant growth.
Lake Erie is also the warmest of the Great Lakes in summer and is known for productive commercial and recreational fisheries. Its western basin is especially shallow, while the eastern basin is considerably deeper.
A common mix-up is confusing shallowest with smallest. Lake Erie is not the smallest Great Lake by surface area; Lake Ontario is smaller. Erie’s shallow depth also makes it vulnerable to rapid temperature changes and algal blooms.