Western Basin of Lake Erie explained

The Western Basin of Lake Erie is the shallow flat basin that comprises the western third of the lake that borders the U.S. states of Michigan and Ohio and the Canadian province of Ontario. The shallowest section of Lake Erie is the western basin where depths average only 25feetto30feetft (toft); as a result, "the slightest breeze can kick up lively waves," according to a New York Times reporter in 2004.^[1] The "waves build very quickly", according to other accounts.^{[2] [3]} As of the 2010s much of the phosphorus in the basin comes from fertilizer applied to no-till soybean and corn fields but washed into streams by heavy rains. The algal blooms result from growth of Microcystis, a toxic blue-green algae that the zebra mussels which infest the lake don't eat.^{[4] [5]}

Lighthouses in the Western Basin of Lake Erie

• Colchester Reef Light (Lake Erie, West) - Built on Colchester Reef in 1885.
• Detroit River Light - Built at the entrance to the Detroit River in 1885.

41.8°N -82.4°W

Notes and References

1. News: Denny lee. Reborn, Lake Erie Beckons Kayakers. The New York Times. September 10, 2004. January 24, 2011.
2. News: The Windsor Star . Author's imagination stoked by Lake Erie tales . Canada.com . November 24, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120825222336/http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=23d49fb1-6607-4bc3-b282-5c69a645659d . dead . August 25, 2012 . January 26, 2011.
3. News: Margaret Atwood. On Lake Erie's demise. The Star. Also, the western end of Lake Erie is the thunderstorm capital of Canada – the lightning displays are breathtaking, the winds can hit gale force, and, due to the lake's shallowness, the waves build very quickly.. January 19, 2008. January 24, 2011.
4. News: Spring Rain, Then Foul Algae in Ailing Lake Erie. March 15, 2013. The New York Times. March 14, 2013. Michael Wines.
5. News: Researchers track Lake Erie algae blooms. USA Today. September 13, 2007. January 24, 2011.