Which lake is drained by the Niagara River?

Lake Erie is drained by the Niagara River.

The Niagara River begins at the northeastern end of Lake Erie and flows north for roughly 36 miles to Lake Ontario. Along the way, it plunges over Niagara Falls, one of North America’s best-known waterfalls, before reaching its mouth near the eastern end of Lake Ontario.

This makes the river a key link in the Great Lakes chain: water moves from Lake Erie through the Niagara River to Lake Ontario, then continues through the Saint Lawrence River toward the Atlantic Ocean. The Welland Canal provides a separate navigation route around the falls.

A frequent mistake is to say that the Niagara River drains Lake Ontario. Hydrologically, Lake Ontario receives the river; Lake Erie is the lake being drained. The river’s flow also supports major hydroelectric facilities in both Canada and the United States.