one of the great chain of North American lakes, between lakes Huron and Ontario. It is about 240 miles long and 40 miles broad and has an average depth of 120 feet. The fall from Lake Erie to Ontario is 326 feet. The whole of its southern shore is within the territory of the United States, and its northern within that of Canada. It receives the waters of the upper lakes by Detroit River, at its western extremity, and discharges its waters into Lake Ontario by the Niagara River, at its northeast end. The Welland Canal enables vessels to pass from it to Lake Ontario (See WELLAND CANAL), and the Erie Canal extends from Buffalo to Albany and connects Lake Erie with the Hudson River (See ERIE CANAL). It is shallow, compared with the other lakes of the series, and is subject to violent storms. Lake Erie washes the shores of Michigan, Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania, which it separates from Ontario, Canada. The principal harbors are Buffalo, Erie, Cleveland, Sandusky and Toledo.