Location

### **Category: Ontario, New York to Duluth – Great Lakes Navigation Route** #### **Overview** The **Ontario, New York to Duluth** route represents one of the most significant **commercial, industrial, and historical** shipping corridors in North America. This route spans the entire **Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System**, connecting **the Atlantic Ocean to the westernmost point of Lake Superior** at Duluth, Minnesota. It is used by both **ocean-going vessels ("salties") and Great Lakes freighters ("lakers")**, supporting international trade, industry, and regional economies. #### **Geography & Key Waterways** - **St. Lawrence River** → Connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes via the St. Lawrence Seaway. - **Lake Ontario** → Easternmost Great Lake, bordered by Ontario (Canada) and New York (USA). - **Welland Canal** → A crucial shipping canal bypassing Niagara Falls, linking Lake Ontario to Lake Erie. - **Lake Erie** → A key shipping lake with ports in Ontario, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Michigan. - **Detroit River - St. Clair River - Lake St. Clair** → A tight shipping passage linking Lake Erie and Lake Huron. - **Lake Huron** → Central Great Lake with major ports in Ontario and Michigan. - **Straits of Mackinac** → A strategic shipping passage between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. - **Lake Michigan** → The only Great Lake entirely within the U.S., with major ports in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Green Bay. - **Lake Superior** → The largest and deepest of the Great Lakes, ending at Duluth, the busiest inland port in North America. #### **Maritime & Shipping Significance** - **Vital Trade Corridor**: Handles **grain, iron ore, coal, petroleum, and manufactured goods**. - **Salties & Lakers**: Supports both **ocean-going vessels** from overseas and **Great Lakes freighters** for regional trade. - **Major Ports**: - **Ontario, Canada** → Toronto, Hamilton, Windsor, Thunder Bay. - **New York, USA** → Oswego, Buffalo. - **Ohio, USA** → Cleveland, Toledo. - **Michigan, USA** → Detroit, Port Huron. - **Wisconsin, USA** → Green Bay, Milwaukee. - **Minnesota, USA** → Duluth-Superior (largest port on the Great Lakes). #### **Shipwrecks & Maritime Hazards** - The route has seen **hundreds of shipwrecks** due to **storms, collisions, and shoals**. - Notable wrecks along this corridor include: - **Edmund Fitzgerald (Lake Superior)** – Lost in 1975 in a storm. - **Regina (Lake Huron)** – Sank in the Great Storm of 1913. - **Henry B. Smith (Lake Superior)** – Also lost in the 1913 storm. - **Griffon (Lake Michigan)** – One of the Great Lakes' oldest lost shipwrecks. - **Keystone State (Lake Erie)** – A sidewheel steamer lost in 1861. #### **Environmental & Navigational Challenges** - **Seasonal Ice**: The route is **closed in winter**, typically from **late December to late March**. - **Water Levels & Depths**: Managed by the **International Joint Commission** to ensure safe navigation. - **Invasive Species**: Introduced by international ships, including **zebra mussels and sea lampreys**. ### **Why It Matters** The **Ontario, New York to Duluth** route is **one of the most important freshwater shipping routes in the world**. It connects North America’s **industrial and agricultural heartland** to global markets via the **St. Lawrence Seaway**, making it essential for trade, history, and the maritime economy.