Facts Ohioans need to know about Lake Erie, the other Great Lakes

• Ohio's portion of Lake Erie contains 26 islands, depending on the water level
• Lake Erie supplies more fish for human consumption than any other Great Lake despite its size.

We are more than halfway through summer—there’s still time for fishing, boating, swimming, and playing watersports. How about paying a visit to Lake Erie this summer?

Though it’s small in volume, it’s quite mighty, and there can be a lot to do. Here are a couple of fun facts about Lake Erie and the other Great Lakes.

How big is Lake Erie?

Lake Erie is the 11th biggest lake in the world based on surface area and has 871 miles of shoreline; Ohio has 262 miles of it.

• Average depth: 62 feet
• Maximum depth: 210 feet
• Size: 9,910 square miles
• Shoreline: 871 miles, including islands
• Named for: A nearby Native American tribe

Lake Erie is the 11th largest lake in the world and the fourth largest of the Great Lakes in surface area, but the smallest by volume. About 95 percent of its inflow comes via the Detroit River from the upper Great Lakes. It is the warmest and most biologically productive of the Great Lakes.

Interestingly, Lake Erie was just named the No. 1 Best Lake in USA TODAY's 2024 10Best Readers' Choice Awards.

"It may be the shallowest of North America's Great Lakes, but Lake Erie has a massive amount of potential when it comes to both tourism and outdoor adventure," 10Best said. "Buffalo, Cleveland, and Toledo are just a few of the storied cities that can be explored along the Erie shore, while recreation opportunities range from fishing to bird-watching to shipwreck diving."

Lake Erie comes in at the shallowest of the Great Lakes and the smallest by volume, with 115.2 cubic miles of water.

Lake Erie and the Great Lakes stretch nearly 600 miles, contain 95% of the country's fresh water

Did you know the Great Lakes account for a fifth of the fresh water on Earth? They also contain 95% of the United States’ supply of fresh water, according to Ohio Sea Grant College Program.

The Great Lakes are as long as 575 miles from the northern tip of Lake Superior to the south shore of Lake Erie.

Lake Erie has islands

Ohio's portion of Lake Erie contains 26 islands in the western basin, but the exact number of islands varies, depending on water levels, per the Ohio Sea Grant College Program.

Can you do anything at Lake Erie?

Aside from being the shallowest and warmest Great Lake, Lake Erie supplies more fish than any other lake. If you’re looking for a great place to fish, Lake Erie provides great catches.

Lake Erie was also named the No. 3 lake for swimming in another poll for USA TODAY's 2024 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

"With hundreds of miles of shoreline to explore between both Canada and the United States, the sprawling Lake Erie is rife with sandy beaches to swim along," 10Best said. "Headlands Beach State Park [in Mentor] is a popular bathing destination for Ohio residents, while Pennsylvanians can take a dip at the scenic Presque Isle State Park (during the warmer months, at least)."

Lake Erie is resourceful for many human lives

Explorers first discovered the Great Lakes while looking for a shortcut to Asia—and now they're known for their many resources.

More than 14 million people live near the Lake Erie basin, and 11 million people receive their drinking water from the lake.

It's the shallowest and the smallest of the Great Lakes by water volume, but millions of U.S. residents live along its coastline, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Ecosystem Status.

Additionally, Lake Erie plays a part in the world's industrial development, including waterborne commerce, navigation, manufacturing, and power production. Lake Erie serves as a destination for ships, containing several ports, including 11 major ones, per the Ohio Sea Grant College Program.

Where does Lake Erie’s water come from? Where does it go?

The Upper Great Lakes provide 80% of Lake Erie’s water via the Detroit River, while 20% comes from precipitation and other tributaries. Lake Erie’s water flows into Canada's Welland Canal and the Niagara River before dropping over Niagara Falls.