The 'Detroit River' is about 32 miles (51 km) long and 0.5 to 2.5 miles (1–4 km) wide in the
Great Lakes system. The name comes from
French ''Rivière du Détroit'', i.e. "River of the
Strait". The name is a reference to the fact that the river connects
Lake St. Clair to
Lake Erie. However, it is not a strait by definition. The boundary between
Canada and the
United States of America passes through the river lengthwise. Its
elevation is 579 feet (175
m) above
sea level.
Geography
The
Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is the only international
wildlife preserve in
North America, uniquely located in the heart of a major metropolitan area. The Refuge includes islands, coastal wetlands, marshes, shoals, and waterfront lands along 48 miles of the Detroit River and
Western Lake Erie shoreline.
Tributaries
While primarily a lake outlet, the Detroit River does have a few tributaries of its own which drain 2,000 square kilometers (772
sq mi). These include the
Rouge River,
Ecorse River, Conner Creek and Marsh Creek in the United States, and Turkey Creek, Little River and
Canard River in Canada.
Islands
Islands in the Detroit River include
Peche Island,
Belle Isle,
Zug Island,
Fighting Island,
Grosse Ile, and
Bois Blanc (also known as Boblo) Island. The islands of the lower Detroit River are part of the
Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.
History
Historical events concerning the Detroit River began with the arrival of the
French voyageurs, the first non-natives to navigate the river and land on Detroit's shores.
Canoes made of
birch or
elm bark were a common mode of travel across the river, although the
pirogue and
bateaux were also used.
The
War of 1812 was partially fought along the Detroit River front, and by
1850, the
census showed 21,019 people populated Detroit.
Ferries,
schooners and
steamboats were found traveling along the river.
During the
Civil War, the river was patrolled in case of a
Confederate attack from the
Canadian north.
As
commerce grew, Detroit was becoming the busiest port in the world, and was dubbed "the Greatest Commercial Artery on Earth." 67,292,504
tonnage had passed through the Detroit River in
1907, compared with 18,727,230 through
London, and 20,390,953 through
New York City.
From
1919 to
1933, when
Prohibition outlawed the manufacture, distribution and purchase of alcoholic beverages in the United States, the Detroit River,
Lake St. Clair and the
St. Clair River carried 75 percent of all liquor smuggled into the United States.
[1] It was known as "The Detroit-
Windsor Funnel". Parts and rusted bodies of Model T Fords and other Prohibition-ear vehicles can still be found on the riverbottom. These vehicles, often late at night, carried liquor across the frozen river. Sometimes, their heavy loads sent these cars and trucks crashing through the ice.
In March of 2003, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy was formed. The Conservancy is tasked with clean up and improvement of the Detroit riverfront from the
Ambassador Bridge to the
MacArthur Bridge. The central focus of the effort is the
RiverWalk, which will be a riverfront pathway extending the entire 4.7 miles between the two bridges. 75% of the east RiverWalk is expected to be completed by late 2007.
[2]
For more information visit
the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy website.
Vessels
The Detroit River is a major transportation artery, as well as place of recreation for
boaters. Below are samples of typical ships and water craft that use the river.
Bridges and crossings
This is a list of
bridges and other crossings of the Detroit River from
Lake Erie upstream to
Lake St. Clair.
Modern uses
The Detroit River supplies the drinking water for over five million people. It was also designated an
American Heritage River in
1998, and a
Canadian Heritage River in 2003, the only river in
North America to have dual designations. A shipping channel for the
Great Lakes Waterway system is maintained in the river. The river flows past the American cities of
Detroit,
River Rouge,
Ecorse,
Wyandotte,
Grosse Ile,
Riverview,
Trenton, and
Gibraltar and the Canadian cities of
Windsor,
LaSalle, and
Amherstburg.
See also
★
Belle Isle (Michigan)
★
Great Lakes
★
Hart Plaza
★
Lake Saint Clair (North America)
★
List of Michigan rivers
★
List of Ontario rivers
★
Renaissance Center
★
Windsor-Detroit
★
Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival
References
1. How the Detroit River shaped lives and history Jenny Nolan
2. [1] Riverfront Conservancy FAQ page
External links
★
Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
★
Detroit River, Canadian Heritage River site
★
Greater Detroit American Heritage River Initiative
★
US EPA page on Detroit RIver
★
Sea Grant Michigan
العربية
中国
Français
Deutsch
Ελληνική
हिन्दी
Italiano
日本語
Português
Русский
Español
