Erie Canal
the largest artificial waterway in the United States, serving to connect the great lakes with the sea.
It begins at Buffalo on Lake Erie, and extends to the Hudson at Albany. It is 387 miles long; has in all 72 locks; a surface width of 70 feet, bottom width of 42 feet, and depth of 7 feet. It is carried over several large streams on stone aqueducts and was opened in 1825.
See NEW YORK STATE BARGE CANAL.
ERIE, LAKE, one of the great chain of North American lakes, between Lakes Huron and Ontario, about 265 miles long, 63½ miles broad at its center, from 200 to 270 feet deep at the deepest part; area, 9,600 square miles. The whole of its S. shore is within the territory of the United States, and its N. within that of Canada. It receives the waters of the upper lakes by Detroit river at its S. W. extremity, and discharges its waters into Lake Ontario by the Niagara river at its N. E. end. The ERIVAN Welland Canal enables vessels to pass from it to Lake Ontario. It is shallow compared with the other lakes of the series, and is subject to violent storms.
The principal harbors are those on the United States side-Buffalo, Erie, Cleveland, etc.
ERIE, LAKE, BATTLE OF. In the War of 1812, between the United States and Great Britain, each party tried to gain possession of Lakes Erie and Ontario as a theater for warlike operations. The chief command of the naval force on Lake Ontario was held by Commodore Chauncey, and that on Lake Erie by Master-Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry, of Rhode Island, then only 27 years old. Perry fitted out a squadron of seven vessels at Erie, and succeeded in running the British blockade early in August, 1813. On Sept. 10 following he engaged in a fight in Put in-Bay, near the W. extremity of the lake, lake, wit with the British squadron squadron of 6 vessels, mounting 63 guns. A fierce battle was waged for several hours, in the early part of which Perry's flagship, the "Lawrence," was completely disabled and struck her flag. He immediately shifted his flag to the "Niagara," and continued in action, finally defeating the British and establishing American supremacy on the lakes.