Presque Isle Bay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Presque Isle Bay |
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| Erie Harbor | |
Presque Isle Bay during the War of 1812
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 Presque Isle Bay
Location in Pennsylvania
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| Location | Millcreek, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 42°8′15″N 80°6′54″W / 42.13750°N 80.11500°W |
| Type | Bay |
| Catchment area | 25 sq mi (65 km2) |
| Max. length | 4.6 mi (7.4 km) |
| Max. width | 1.8 mi (2.9 km) |
| Surface area | 5.8 sq mi (15 km2) |
| Average depth | 20 ft (6.1 m) |
| Surface elevation | 571 ft (174 m) |
Presque Isle Bay is a beautiful natural bay found near Erie, Pennsylvania, in the United States. This bay is about 4.6 miles long and 1.8 miles wide. Its average depth is around 20 feet.
The bay is bordered by Presque Isle State Park to the north and west. To the south, you'll find the city of Erie's shoreline. This area has many fun spots like parks, tourist attractions, and marinas. The Erie Yacht Club is also located here.
People love visiting Presque Isle Bay for its calm waters and amazing views. Popular activities include fishing, water skiing, swimming, and boating. A small channel on the east side allows ships to travel between the bay and Lake Erie. Several streams, like Cascade Creek and Mill Creek, flow into the bay.
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History of Presque Isle Bay
Presque Isle Bay played an important role in American history. During the War of 1812, a brave naval leader named Oliver Hazard Perry took command of America's fleet here. This was in March 1813.
Perry's Fleet and the Battle of Lake Erie
By July 1813, Perry had gathered his crews and ships. He managed to get his fleet past a British blockade. This blockade was led by Robert Heriot Barclay. Once free, Perry led his ships west to Put-in-Bay, Ohio. There, in September 1813, they fought and won the famous Battle of Lake Erie.
Protecting Presque Isle Bay
For a while, Presque Isle Bay faced serious pollution problems. Sewage and waste from factories made the water unsafe. This even caused health issues for fish, like tumors on brown bullheads. Because of this, swimming in the bay had to stop.
Steps Towards Recovery
In 1988, the city of Erie started the Erie Harbor Improvement Council. Their goal was to clean up the bay. This group later became the Presque Isle Bay Public Advisory Committee. They worked hard to get the bay listed as a "Great Lakes Areas of Concern" (AOC) in 1991.
They also pushed for a special clean-up plan called a Remedial Action Plan (RAP). This plan was created in 1993 and updated in 1995 and 2002. The main goals were to make the bay safe for swimming and fishing again.
A Successful Comeback
Thanks to these efforts, Presque Isle Bay became the first US AOC to reach "Recovery Stage" status in 2002. This was a huge achievement! To celebrate the bay's recovery, about 300 swimmers took part in a special swim on June 28, 2008. It was a great way to show how much the bay had improved.
