Erie Basin Marina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Erie Basin Marina |
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| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Buffalo, New York |
| Coordinates | 42°52′53″N 78°53′27″W / 42.8813305°N 78.8907812°W |
| Details | |
| Opened | 1974 |
| Owned by | City of Buffalo |
| Type of harbor | Artificial |
| Size | c. 24 acres (9.7 ha) |
| Available berths | 286 slips (1999) |
| Draft depth | 29 feet (8.8 m) |
| Website Official website: http://eriebasinmarina.org |
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The Erie Basin Marina is a special harbor in Buffalo, New York. It's a place where boats can dock safely. People also enjoy its beautiful gardens and a public observatory. From the observatory, you can see amazing views of the city and the water.
The marina's water flows into the Niagara River and Lake Erie. It is located near the Black Rock Canal and Buffalo's Inner Harbor. A walking path connects the marina to the Naval Park. A long wall, called a breakwall, protects the marina from strong waves. This wall was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. If you look at the marina on a map, it even looks like a buffalo!
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History of Erie Basin Marina
Before the marina was built, this area was known as the Erie Basin. It was an important connection between Buffalo's Outer Harbor and the famous Erie Canal. This basin was dug out between 1848 and 1852. A strong wall made of stones, wood, and gravel protected its entrance.
Buffalo's very first waterfront grain elevator was built here by Joseph Dart. A grain elevator is a tall building used to store and load grain onto ships. Later, railroad tracks were added to this spot. These tracks were used to load ships with coal ore.
Construction of the modern Erie Basin Marina began in the 1950s. It was finished by 1974. The marina was built using slag, which is a leftover material from steel production. When seen from above, the marina was designed to look like a buffalo. This shape is a special tribute to the city of Buffalo.
Protecting the Marina's Water
In recent years, keeping the harbor clean has been an important job. The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority manages the marina. They regularly clean out logs and other trash that float into the marina.
There have also been efforts to reduce sewage overflow into the water. In 2010, about 10 million gallons of city sewage would overflow. By 2017, after improvements were made, this amount was cut down to four million gallons. This helps keep the water cleaner for everyone.
Marina Improvements and New Features
In 2010, about $1 million was spent to improve the marina. This money helped rebuild the seawall, which is a wall that protects the land from the sea. It also helped extend the boardwalk and build a new concrete pier next to the observation tower.
In 2013, a developer named Carl Paladino planned to build a tall apartment complex near the marina's entrance. The marina also welcomed a new restaurant called William K's in 2015. This restaurant joined The Hatch, another popular spot at the marina.
Images for kids
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View of the Observation Tower, June 2019
