Lake Erie Research Paper

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Pages: 2

Lake Erie is the twelfth largest lake in the world, and the fourth largest of the five Great Lakes. Made of fresh water, this mysterious beauty traverses the coasts of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Ontario. She takes her name from the Iroquoian word for "cat"; thanks in part to her fickle and, at times, treacherous nature. However, her warm, blue-green waters, abundance of surrounding nature and wildlife, and endless sources of amusement make her unruliness forgivable.
Standing on one of her many beaches, it's easy for someone to see how the word "lake" doesn't really seem to do her justice. The word brings to mind thoughts of canoeing and fishing at summer camp, or vacationing families in row boats attempting to escape the frenzy of the big city. For some the word "lake" implies the ability to stand on one side and see the other, but this is not the case. Looking out from the shore, Lake Erie appears as vast and boundless as the ocean. Her thin, gray horizon blurs into the sky, leaving her guests unclear where one perimeter starts and the other ends.
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Tourists and locals alike swarm her beaches to swim and relax. The first thing a person might notice is that her beaches are not made of sand, those that are have had the sand brought in from somewhere else. Instead, they are more of a mix of ground stone and shells, which glisten and sparkle when the sun's out. Seagulls fly overhead, stalking beachgoers, squawking and begging for scraps. High-pitched shrieks of laughter and delight pierce the air as children run, chasing one another, waves nipping at their feet. The smell of freshly cooked perch drifts from roadside stands tempting hungry passersby. Sailboats and schooners dot the waters like confetti. The lake smiles and beckons, her waters glistening in the sun, not unlike a scene on a