Recreation
Recreation is an increasingly important social and economic activity in the Great Lakes basin. Millions of people, from both within and outside the Great Lakes basin, use the lakes and their shorelines for a variety of recreational purposes.
Among the major recreational activities around the Great Lakes are boating, sportfishing, hunting, bird-watching, camping, swimming, windsurfing, hiking, picnicking, and driving along the shoreline.
These recreational uses supported the establishment of provincial and federal parks and led to a major service industry involving marinas, hotels, motels, resorts, campgrounds, and other nearby land-based recreational establishments. In addition, many people who use the Great Lakes for recreation have cottages or homes along the shoreline.
Boating
Canadians own 2.0 million recreational boats including 637,350 canoes, 148,500 sailboats, 349,650 rowboats, 823,200 outboards and 120,000 other boats of all sorts.
Fishing
Few outdoor experiences can compare with fishing in Ontario’s 250,000 lakes and the thousands of rivers and streams. It is a favourite activity that Ontario residents and visitors from Canada and abroad enjoy year-round.