About
THE SANCTUARY
Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary (LONMS or sanctuary) encompasses a 1,722 square mile area of eastern Lake Ontario between the Canadian border and Wayne, Cayuga, Oswego, and Jefferson counties.
The sanctuary is co-managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and New York State (NYS).
The sanctuary includes 41 known shipwrecks and submerged aircraft, and at least 19 potential shipwrecks. The sanctuary may also include artifacts from early Indigenous peoples, who lived on land long ago submerged by the lake. Lake Ontario’s cold, fresh water uniquely preserves underwater cultural resources, making the sanctuary area frequently visited by recreational divers.
On shore, lakeside communities in Wayne, Cayuga, Oswego, and Jefferson Counties have developed through centuries of fishing, agriculture, trade, and shipbuilding activities that are centered on Lake Ontario and its connections to the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, Erie Canal, and faraway ports. The area was the birthplace of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Six Nations who came together to form one of the largest civilizations in North America, with founding documents that later inspired American founding documents. Following the American Revolution, the region later became the epicenter of the War of 1812. Today, the region’s active ports and harbors continue to support maritime industries including commercial shipping, fishing charters, and recreational boating and tourism.
Learn more about Lake Ontario National Marine SanctuaryThe sanctuary includes 41 known shipwrecks and submerged aircraft, and at least 19 potential shipwrecks. The sanctuary may also include artifacts from early Indigenous peoples, who lived on land long ago submerged by the lake. Lake Ontario’s cold, fresh water uniquely preserves underwater cultural resources, making the sanctuary area frequently visited by recreational divers.
On shore, lakeside communities in Wayne, Cayuga, Oswego, and Jefferson Counties have developed through centuries of fishing, agriculture, trade, and shipbuilding activities that are centered on Lake Ontario and its connections to the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, Erie Canal, and faraway ports. The area was the birthplace of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Six Nations who came together to form one of the largest civilizations in North America, with founding documents that later inspired American founding documents. Following the American Revolution, the region later became the epicenter of the War of 1812. Today, the region’s active ports and harbors continue to support maritime industries including commercial shipping, fishing charters, and recreational boating and tourism.
THE DESIGNATION
The designation of a national marine sanctuary introduces significant long-term benefits to the eastern Lake Ontario region. Counties and institutional partners anticipate increased tourism, research and interpretation support for the area’s rich history, as well enhanced protection and management of the sanctuary’s maritime heritage.
National Marine Sanctuaries protect marine ecosystems and promote sustainable use; sanctuaries are hubs for research, conservation, safe recreation and commercial uses, tourism, and on-shore education. As part of the designation, NOAA ONMS will continue to mitigate impacts to the sanctuary area, including conservation of shipwrecks and underwater landmarks, and extend programs, research, and other services that are present in other National Marine Sanctuaries.
Learn more about National Marine SanctuariesNational Marine Sanctuaries protect marine ecosystems and promote sustainable use; sanctuaries are hubs for research, conservation, safe recreation and commercial uses, tourism, and on-shore education. As part of the designation, NOAA ONMS will continue to mitigate impacts to the sanctuary area, including conservation of shipwrecks and underwater landmarks, and extend programs, research, and other services that are present in other National Marine Sanctuaries.
