When it comes to breathtaking waters, lakes and rivers , theUnited States certainly deserves the TOP Prize.
Throughout the US, you’ll find some of the most pristine lakes on the planet.
Usually lakes with crystal clear water are hidden in secret locations.
Today we are talking about Erie again =)… I hope you are NOT tired from my stories of Lake Erie.
As for me, Lake Erie is unclear and shallow compared to other Great Lakes, and generally resembles the Black Sea.
In summer and early autumn, Lake Erie is very similar to the sea, with its beach bars and a lot of resort towns nearby.
Now, of course, everything is not so lively there, the holiday season is over, but still a certain number of people wander along the shore, some make barbecues, and some collect branches turned by waves thrown ashore.
By the way, there is a trail along the shore of Lake Erie and it offers impressive scenic views of the top of the lake.
Can you Swim in the Middle of Lake Erie?
Yes, but it is not recommended.
Most often, accidents on the water happen when you are swimming in non-equipped places. If you want to swim there are many equipped beaches at the shore of Lake Erie.
If you decide to swim in the middle of Lake Erie then do not swim alone,ask someone close to you to watch from the shore or, if possible, sail close to you on a boat.
How Deep is the Middle of Lake Erie?
80-82 feet is a depth of Lake Erie in the middle of its Basin.
This lake is not only the smallest inthe Great Lakes group, but also the southernmost and the least watery of them.
Several small rivers flow into Erie, and one flows out – the 34 milesNiagara River, which connects Lakes Erie and Ontario.
Erie is also connected to Lakes Huron, St. Clair, and through the Erie Canal to the Hudson River and the Atlantic coast of the United States.
Diving in Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the perfect destination for divers of all experience levels.
There are 286 shipwrecks just in western basin of Lake Erie.
Local sources claim that Erie has more shipwrecks per square mile of bottom than any other freshwater basin in the world.
And it is forbidden to lift them.
In 1998, the propeller of the sunken ship “Adventure” was raised from the bottom and scrapped. But the police managed to intervene – and the propeller was returned to its original place – under water.
Lake Erie offers some of the best diving in the world not only because it has wrecks such as the Islander, the Eagle Wing Group and the David W. Mills but also for its underwater life.
Diving into the lake is usually made from the shore.
For Diving in Lake Erie, the compass will be needed, it is a good tool to help you navigate to your exit point in low visibility conditions.
Sea water is denser than freshwater, an object that is neutrally buoyant in salt water will sink in fresh water.
From my diving experience I would say that water was colder than ocean. Maybe it was just for me.
You can wear multiple wetsuits or even a drysuit like I did.
These multiple suits affected my buoyancy when I was diving in a lake at the beginning. So the other members of a team helped me to weigh myself properly for the dive.
Diving in Lake Erie also has its downside, as many shipwrecks are also the final resting place of crews.
Needless to say, many shipwrecks are “haunted” by ghosts.
It is said that the wreckage of the ship “Emperor” on Lake Superior was chosen by the ghost of a sailor who continues to perform his duties even after death.
Sailor Ghost is always appearing in the water behind divers and following them possibly in search of its dead teammates.
Can You Swim Anywhere in Lake Erie?
Yes, if you are brave enough, because Lake Erie is famous for its ghost ships that can appear anywhere in the lake.
No water in the world has had as many shipwrecks in Lake Erie.
People say that there are often ghost ships in the lake and sailors call them “Ghost Fleet”.
Shipwrecks in Lake Erie are not uncommon – the sheer size of the lake and difficult weather conditions – especially during the winter – make them more like inland seas, with attendant risks to ships.
The oldest of the Lake Erie ghost ships is the Le Griffon, which disappeared on Lake Michigan in 1679.
It appears on each of the lakes periodically.
It was rumored to have been cursed and has since been seen colliding with other ships in Michigan, but in the moments before impact it would disappear into thin air. Its wreckage has never been found.
Another ghost fleet ship is the Bannockburn . The Ship disappeared in 1902.
These ghosts still travel across the lake, most often between Port Arthur, Michigan,Erie.
Lake Erie in Winter
In winter, cold winds swirl over the warm waters of Erie, causing the so-called “snow effect”: the city of Buffalo, New York, often experiences heavy snowfalls.
This effect does not last long as Erie, shallower than the other Great Lakes, freezes quickly, but Buffalo has been called one of the snowiest cities in the US.
Ecological Problems with Lake Erie
The mystic side and beauty of Lake Erie is damaged by people.
How?
By reducing soil erosion what is universally applied throughout North America. It gives good results to soil and huge side effects to Lake Erie.
For example, Phosphorus is necessary for the normal development of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, but it’s levels in the water of Lake Erie goes off scale, and this leads to intense algal blooms.
As a result, algae release toxins into the water that are incredibly harmful to most plants, fish, and animals, and ultimately to humans.