Niagara Falls reaches Lake Erie - what happens to Lake Erie?

Question

I live in Ohio and recently visited Niagara Falls. Niagara continues to erode its way back upstream to Lake Erie and in thousands of years will make contact. What will happen to Lake Erie when this happens? will there be an enormous violent emptying of Lake Erie resulting in cataclysmic flooding?

Answer 1

No, as this is a very slow process and the only thing that would happen is Lake Ontario and Lake Erie would then be at roughly the same level, the result would be a calmer slower river connecting the two lakes like the Detroit river that connects Lake St Clair to Lake Erie . Also remember Lakes Huron, Michigan and Superior are all further up the chain of lakes and at higher elevations than Ontario and Erie yet have not flooded the lower lakes out.

Answer 2

The upper Great Lakes surface elevation is roughly 330 feet higher above sea level than Lake Ontario, Lake Erie's greatest depth is 210' which is still a 120' drop to Lake Ontario. I'd expect some flooding as the Niagara River gorge widens into the lake bottom and Lake Erie slowly drains to become the Erie River which may be a series of smaller lakes, falls and rapids. That's assuming we don't have another ice age come along to significantly alter the topography of the Great Lakes basin first.

Answer 3

the top great Lakes floor elevation is extra or less 330 ft greater above sea point than Lake Ontario, Lake Erie's maximum appropriate intensity is 210' which continues to be a a hundred and twenty' drop to Lake Ontario. i might anticipate some flooding because of fact the Niagara River gorge widens into the lake backside and Lake Erie slowly drains to alter into the Erie River which would be a chain of smaller lakes, falls and rapids. it somewhat is assuming we don't have yet another ice age come alongside to heavily regulate the topography of the great Lakes basin first.

Answer 4

Lake Erie has been filled for millenia by rivers flowing into it and by other sources of water welling up into it.

Answer 5

Yup! I got my boat ready . . .

Answer 6

Build a damn to make a bigger lake......................