Editing Lake Ontario (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Lake Ontario Watershed.png|thumb|Lake Ontario's [[drainage basin]]]]
Lake Ontario is the easternmost of the Great Lakes and the smallest in surface area ({{convert|7,340|mi2|km2|abbr=on|disp=comma}}),<ref name="EPAphysical">{{cite web|url=http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/physfacts.html |title=Great Lakes: Basic Information: Physical Facts |access-date=November 12, 2011 |date=May 25, 2011 |publisher=U.S. Government |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120529233616/http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/physfacts.html |archive-date=May 29, 2012 }}</ref> although it exceeds Lake Erie in volume ({{convert|393|mi3|km3|abbr=on|disp=comma}}). It is the [[Largest lakes|13th largest lake in the world]]. When its islands are included, the lake's shoreline is {{convert|712|mi|km}} long. As the last lake in the Great Lakes' hydrologic chain, Lake Ontario has the lowest mean surface elevation of the lakes at {{convert|243|ft|m}}<ref name=EPA/> above sea level; {{convert|326|ft|m}} lower than its neighbor upstream. Its maximum length is {{convert|193|smi|km nmi|lk=on|abbr=off}}, and its maximum width is {{convert|53|smi|km nmi}}.<ref name=EPA>{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/atlas/gl-fact1.html |title=Great Lakes Atlas: Factsheet #1 |access-date=November 12, 2011 |date=April 11, 2011 |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106201816/http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/atlas/gl-fact1.html |archive-date=November 6, 2011  }}</ref> The lake's average depth is 47 [[fathom]]s 1 foot (283&nbsp;ft; 86 m), with a maximum depth of 133 fathoms 4 feet (802&nbsp;ft; 244 m) in the [[Rochester Basin]].<ref name=EPA/>{{sfn|Wright|2006|p=64}} The lake's primary source is the Niagara River, draining Lake Erie, with the Saint Lawrence River serving as the outlet. The [[drainage basin]] covers 24,720&nbsp;square&nbsp;miles (64,030&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>).<ref name="EPAphysical"/><ref>[http://www.fllowpa.org/statebasin.pdf A Report on Water Resources and Local Watershed Management Programs] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726055920/http://www.fllowpa.org/statebasin.pdf |date=July 26, 2011 }}. The State of the New York Lake Ontario Basin (2000)</ref> As with all the Great Lakes, water levels change both within the year (owing to seasonal changes in water input) and among years (owing to longer-term trends in precipitation). These water level fluctuations are an integral part of [[Lake ecosystem|lake ecology]] and produce and maintain extensive wetlands.<ref>Wilcox, D.A, Thompson, T.A., Booth, R.K., and Nicholas, J.R.. 2007. Lake-level variability and water availability in the Great Lakes. U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1311, 25 p.</ref><ref>Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. Chapter 2.</ref> The lake also has an important freshwater fishery, although it has been negatively affected by factors including [[overfishing]], water pollution and [[Invasive species in the United States|invasive species]].<ref name="Christie, W. J. 1974">Christie, W. J. (1974). Changes in the fish species composition of the Great Lakes. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 31, 827–54.</ref>

[[Baymouth bar]]s built by prevailing winds and currents have created a significant number of [[lagoon]]s and sheltered harbors, mostly near (but not limited to) [[Prince Edward County, Ontario]], and the easternmost shores. Perhaps the best-known example is [[Toronto Harbour|Toronto Bay]], chosen as the site of the [[Upper Canada]] capital for its strategic harbor. Other prominent examples include [[Hamilton Harbour]], [[Irondequoit Bay]], [[Presqu'ile Provincial Park|Presqu'ile Bay]], and [[Sodus Bay]]. The bars themselves are the sites of long beaches, such as [[Sandbanks Provincial Park]] and [[Sandy Island Beach State Park]]. These sand bars are often associated with large [[wetland]]s, which support large numbers of plant and animal species, as well as providing important rest areas for migratory birds.<ref>Maynard, L., and Wilcox, D.A., 1997, Coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes—State of the Lakes Ecosystem Conference 1996 background paper: Environment Canada and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 905–R–97–015b, 99 p.</ref><ref>Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.497 p.</ref> Presqu'ile, on the north shore of Lake Ontario, is particularly significant in this regard. One unique feature of the lake is the Z-shaped [[Bay of Quinte]] which separates Prince Edward County from the Ontario mainland, save for a {{convert|2|mi|km|adj=on}} isthmus near Trenton; this feature also supports many wetlands and aquatic plants, as well as associated fisheries.

Major rivers draining into Lake Ontario include the [[Niagara River]], [[Don River (Toronto)|Don River]], [[Humber River (Ontario)|Humber River]], [[Rouge River (Ontario)|Rouge River]], [[Trent River (Ontario)|Trent River]], [[Cataraqui River]], [[Genesee River]], [[Oswego River (New York)|Oswego River]], [[Black River (New York)|Black River]], [[Little Salmon River (Lake Ontario)|Little Salmon River]], [[Credit River]], [[Ganaraska River]] and the [[Salmon River (New York)|Salmon River]].

The [[Welland Canal]] also drains into the lake.