LAKE ONTARIO   Tidbits

                                 The glaciers began to retreat almost 14,000 years ago.  Most of the ice fields

                                 left the Great Lakes region about 7,000-9,000 years ago.

                                 The Great Lakes and their connecting channels and the St. Lawrence River

                                 form the largest fresh surface water system on Earth

                                 Lake Ontario is 325 feet lower than Lake Erie

                                 The outlet from Lake Superior , at the top of the system, moves about 76,000

                                 cubic feet of water per second.  By comparison, the outlet from Lake Ontario ,

                                 the last lake in the chain, moves about 243,000 cubic feet per second on average.

                                 The control of lakes Superior and Ontario outflows are governed by the

                                 International Joint Commission's boards of control

                                 14th largest lake in the world and the smallest of the Great Lakes

                                                Length: 193 miles

                                                Breadth: 53 miles

                                                Avg.  Depth: 283 feet

                                                Max.  Depth: 802 feet

                                                Volume: 393 Cubic miles

                                                Water surface: 7,340 square miles

                                                Drainage basin: 24,720 square miles

                                                Shoreline length (incl. islands): 712 miles

                                                Retention/Replacement time: 6 years

                                 1972-73, over 1,000 scientists, engineers and technicians undertook the most

                                 extensive survey ever made of a Great lake.

                                 Interesting websites for more information:

                                       Great Lakes Commission: www.glc.org

                                       Great Lakes Fishery Commission: www.glfc.org

                                       US Army Corp.: www.Irb.usace.aniiy.nill

                                       National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration: www.glerl.noaa.gov

                                       US Geological Survey: www.glsc.usgs.gov

                                       US Env.  Protection Agency ( Great lakes ): www.epa.gov/ginpo

                                       International Joint Commission: www.i-ic.org

                                       New York Sea Grant Institute: www.se,,igrant.sunyb.edu

                                        New York State Dept. of Enviromental  Conservation: www.dec.state.ny.us