Frequently Asked Questions

The 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.

Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary is a historically rich area where the long interactions between human activity and the maritime environment has fostered a deep sense of meaning and place. The first regional inhabitants, the ancestors of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, populated the area thousands of years ago. As the gateway between the Great Lakes and the ocean, the maritime landscape of this area represents connections between cultures, between a nascent nation and the frontier, and of commerce, opportunity, and ingenuity. The cultural legacy of people who lived along its shores and journeyed across it's waters is showcased by the remains left behind and the stories passed down.

In addition, the sanctuary includes 41 known shipwrecks and submerged aircraft, and at least 19 likely shipwrecks. The sanctuary may also include artifacts from early Indigenous tribes and nations, who lived in land long ago submerged by the lake. Lake Ontario’s cold, fresh water uniquely preserves underwater cultural resources, making the sanctuary area a frequently visited location for recreational divers.

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 and NYS 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.