The adverse effects of human activity are also seen in habitats. Condominiums and marinas crowd its southern shore. The press of a burgeoning human population in the region means less room for wildlife. The natural beauty of Lake Erie continues to draw millions to its shores. Migrating birds and waterfowl, as well as the monarch butterfly, are regular visitors to the unusual sand spits that reach into the lake at Presque Isle, Pennsylvania, and Long Point and Point Pelee, Ontario.
Quiet wetlands belie a teeming diversity of life.
And, Erie s waters roar over the falls at Niagara, attracting visitors from around the world. The Great Lakes opened the interior of the continent to European penetration and settlement. Drawn by the area s abundant resources, including fish, game, and lumber, settlers cleared forested land and drained wetlands for agricultural use. Lumbering became a booming enterprise in the 1870s. Later, iron ore from the deposits near Lake Superior was shipped to Lake Erie ports, and Appalachian coal was sent overland, giving birth to a steel industry.