The smallest of the Great Lakes, Lake Ontario spans a massive area of 18,960 square kilometers (7,340 square miles) making this the world's 14th largest lake. At its deepest, the lake plunges to a depth of a staggering 244 meters (802 feet). It derives its name from the Iroquoian word for "lake of shining waters," the majestic Niagara Falls just one of the many attractions to its credit. The Iroquois and Huron First Nations thrived along its shores for thousands of years, long before the Europeans arrived, sustained by its teeming waters and bountiful surrounds. Lake Ontario now serves as a source of drinking water for over nine million people. The lake straddles the international border between Canada and the United States, fed by the waters of all the Great Lakes before it meets with the Atlantic Ocean via St. Lawrence River. Diverse ecosystems and rare habitats thrive along the shores of the expansive lake, where dunes and wetlands merge with forests and rocky cliffs, each supporting a distinct plethora of species. Some of the world's most spectacular beaches fringe the glistening waters of the lake, including the world's largest freshwater dune system at the Sandbanks Provincial Park. All this and more render Lake Ontario truly deserving of the title of "Great Lake".
