Essay - The Importance of Lake Erie Introduction the Purpose of This...

THE IMPORTANCE OF LAKE ERIE

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this paper is to introduce and discuss the importance of Lake Erie to the industrial and commercial markets of Northern Ohio, the state of Ohio, and the entire United States.

***** ON LAKE ERIE

***** Erie forms the northern boundary to the state of *****, separating the ***** from Canada. It is the fourth largest of ***** Great Lakes, and the 12th ***** freshwater lake in ***** world. ***** provides significant drinking water ***** the surrounding cities and towns, and is used for recreation and fishing (Hansen). It also provides large quantities of hydroelectric power throughout ***** region.

***** dedication ***** the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959 opened Ohio's Lake Erie ports to ships of all flags. Prior ***** construction of the Seaway, only very small "canalers" could come to the Lakes from the Atlantic, so overseas trade via the Lakes was insignificant. Today, the salt water trade to ***** from Ohio is an important segment ***** Great ***** shipping - 1.7 million *****ns" (Martel and Schul**********s). As we will see, Lake ***** is ***** extremely significant to the business community.

***** ERIE'S SIGNIFICANCE TO BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

***** Erie supports all types of business and industry via her shipping routes, and ***** natural resources. The lake contains large amounts of sand and gravel, which construction companies use ***** a variety of products. The building ***** uses *****m for cement, paving, laying stone and brick, and in many other areas. Much of ***** sand and gravel comes from yearly dredg*****g ***** is necessary to keep the ports in Ohio open.

***** are eight ports located on Lake Erie in Northern *****. The ease of transportation on ***** around ***** Erie contributes to ***** growth in communities all around the *****. Oregon, Ohio has created a free tr*****de zone ***** ***** Lucas*****County Port. "The site of the first Great Lakes *****eign trade zone, the Port is ***** number one grain exporter on the Great ***** and ***** Oreg*****'s key to the seas of the world. Sun ***** BP Oil refining companies cover over one square mile, employ over a thousand full time employees and toge*****r, process over a quarter ***** barrels of oil e***** day" (Editors). Free trade allows industry to do business without ***** tariffs associated with non-free trade zones, ***** encourages business to locate to the area. Free ***** zones are usually located at hubs of transport*****ion, and Lake Erie is ***** backbone of this hub, which includes highways for truck travel, railroads, ***** shipping on the lake itself.

***** is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think ***** Lake *****. Shipping travels from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario through the Welland Canal. Because the New York State Canal Barge System joins Lake Erie with the Huds***** River, shipping can go all ***** way to the ***** Ocean, and then anywhere in the world. The ***** Canal is important because it ********** ships to bypass Niagara