There are many places in Toronto where you can enjoy nature, swim, sail and walk along the shoreline. That’s because the city is surrounded by one of the five largest Great Lakes in North America, Ontario. It’s a popular place for summer vacations and boating, but it wasn’t always like this. Many years ago, there was no lake here. Learn more at toronto-name.

How did Lake Ontario come to be in Toronto?

During the Wisconsin glaciation, a reservoir was formed above the Silurian rocks. Then the glacier expanded it and remained in the central and western part of New York State. Its channels then flowed into the St. Lawrence River. The result was a large lake that flowed through Syracuse, New York into the Mohawk River. At this time, a shoreline appeared along Toronto 15 to 40 km to the south.

When the glacier finally melted, the water level in the valley was below sea level and the lake became a bay of the Atlantic Ocean. Gradually, the land rose under the weight of a two-kilometer thick layer of ice. When the ice melted, Lake Ontario became one of the largest lakes in North America.

Originally, the area around the lake belonged to the Native Americans. They called the lake Ontario. This word translates to “shining waters”. The French first visited the lake in 1615. Then other Europeans heard about it. They began using the lake’s name in 1641, after which it appeared on maps.

In the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, they built several ports on the shores of Lake Toronto. Then, as a result of the French and Native American Wars, Lake Ontario temporarily became the property of the British. After the Anglo-American War of 1812, people from Europe and Canada began to settle on its shores and develop trade. Islands with urban infrastructure (houses, yacht clubs, a school and a church) also appeared. Then trails, attractions and several beaches were created for locals and tourists.

Things to know about Lake Ontario

1. It is one of the largest bodies of water in the world, covering an area of 19,000 km².

2. Lake Ontario is connected to the Atlantic Ocean and the St. Lawrence Valley.

3. Most of the water enters the lake from the Niagara River, which flows over one of the largest and widest waterfalls in the world.

4. Lake Ontario provides drinking water for 9 million people.

5. The islands and metropolitan areas around the lake are home to more Canadians than any other body of water in the country.

6. Because of its depth, it never freezes, although it froze 5 times in 1934.

7. Lake Ontario is one of Canada’s largest lakes.

8. It is the 14th largest lake in the world.

9. All the water in the Atlantic Ocean flows through the lake.

10. Before Europeans moved into the area around the lake, it was inhabited by Native Americans (Iroquois and Huron).

11. The lake is divided between the United States and Canada.

12. More than 150 different species of fish once lived in its waters.

13. There are over 100 beaches on the lake.

14. The climatic conditions and the area around Lake Ontario are favorable for growing fruits.

15. Many different kinds of birds live here: swans, grebes, ducks.

Climate Impacts on Toronto’s Largest Lake

The lake has an 11-minute oscillating wave rhythm. The movement of the earth and wind can cause a storm.

It is almost never covered by ice. There have only been 2 such occurrences in the lake’s history, in 1934 and 1976.

Lake Ontario has a moderate climate. The region of its location is characterized by long winters and cool summers. The average summer temperature is +22°C. 

In summer, the shores and beaches of the lake become an ideal climatic zone for birds and local fauna (plants and trees).