The spelling of "Lake Ontario" is fairly straightforward, but the pronunciation may trip up some non-native speakers. The IPA phonetic transcription for "Lake Ontario" is /leɪk ɑnˈtɛərioʊ/. The first syllable, "leɪk," is pronounced with a long "a" sound followed by a hard "k" sound. The second syllable, "ɑn," is pronounced with a short "a" sound. The third syllable, "ˈtɛər," is pronounced with a stressed "e" sound followed by an "r" sound. The final syllable, "ioʊ," is pronounced with a long "o" sound followed by a diphthong "ow" sound.
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, situated on the border between the United States and Canada. It is the easternmost and smallest of the Great Lakes, covering an area of approximately 18,960 square kilometers (7,340 square miles). Lake Ontario is bounded by the Canadian province of Ontario to the north, the American state of New York to the south and west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the northeast.
Known for its distinctively elongated shape, Lake Ontario stretches approximately 311 kilometers (193 miles) from east to west, and 85 kilometers (53 miles) from north to south. It has a maximum depth of 244 meters (802 feet) and an average depth of 86 meters (283 feet). The lake is fed by numerous rivers, including the Niagara River, and drains into the Atlantic Ocean through the St. Lawrence River.
Lake Ontario is a significant transportation and trade route, being connected to the other Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean through the St. Lawrence Seaway. It is also a popular tourist destination, offering various recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and swimming. The lake supports a diverse ecosystem and is home to several species of fish, including trout, salmon, and bass. Furthermore, it serves as a vital source of freshwater for millions of people living in the surrounding region.
The word "Ontario" originates from the Huron-Iroquois language, specifically the Wyandot (Huron) dialect. The name is believed to be derived from the Wyandot word "Ontarí:io", which translates to "great lake" or "beautiful lake". This name was used to refer to Lake Ontario by the Wyandot people and other indigenous groups living in the region before European contact.