why is Lake Erie called a "Lake" (Cleveland: oil, land)

[lisa12230]

I know, I know....When I got here, the first thing my son asked me was why is this called a lake???? It's a HUGE body of water that's like an ocean almost.....I told him I agree but that's what its called, lol....Can anybody add any insight on this??? Don't get me wrong Im not trying to sound dumb or anything like that....Im just curious

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by lisa12230

I know, I know....When I got here, the first thing my son asked me was why is this called a lake???? It's a HUGE body of water that's like an ocean almost.....I told him I agree but that's what its called, lol....Can anybody add any insight on this??? Don't get me wrong Im not trying to sound dumb or anything like that....Im just curious

Oceans have salt water in them, lakes typically don't.

[lisa12230]

Originally Posted by oakparkdude

Oceans have salt water in them, lakes typically don't.

Ok now I see!!!!!...I always thought that but wasn't sure....my kids still like to call Lake Erie the Ocean...

[barney_rubble]

(n) lake (a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land)
- WordNet Search - 3.1

[Peregrine]

Originally Posted by barney_rubble

surrounded by land)
- WordNet Search - 3.1

Surrounded by land is the main criteria.
Note all the oceans are actually connected to each other.
Although the "Dead Sea" is completely surrounded by land and is salty. But a Lake can be salty.
lol
Yea, it is wierd how they named stuff.
The Erie Sea has a cool ring to it.

[lisa12230]

Originally Posted by Peregrine

Surrounded by land is the main criteria.
Note all the oceans are actually connected to each other.
Although the "Dead Sea" is completely surrounded by land and is salty. But a Lake can be salty.
lol
Yea, it is wierd how they named stuff.
The Erie Sea has a cool ring to it.

lololol

[Cleveland_Collector]

Another criterion, besides being land-locked, is that lakes are supplied by tributaries (rivers, streams, etc.), other lakes, and rainwater exclusively. The Great Salt Lake, though high in salinity, also fulfills these criteria.

[taxedtodeath]

Oil Can Boyd called Lake Erie an ocean....

[Clevelander17]

They're more like freshwater seas. The problem is that we have inconsistent terminology in our language, and no real term for the magnitude of these gigantic bodies of freshwater.

[lisa12230]

Originally Posted by Clevelander17

They're more like freshwater seas. The problem is that we have inconsistent terminology in our language, and no real term for the magnitude of these gigantic bodies of freshwater.

Now I totally agree with that...I think it should be called a "Freshwater sea"....Not a lake....In my opinion, a lake is a body of water where you can see land from a distance....Canada's on the other side of lake erie, so you can;t see land, lol.....That's my opinion