Detroit River

The Detroit River is a 28.0-mile-long (45.1 km)river in the Great Lakes system.The Detroit River has served an important role in the history of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world.The river travels south from Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie, and the whole river carries the international border between Canada and the United States.The river serves as an important transportation route connecting Lake Michigan, Huron, and Superior to the St. Lawrence Seaway and Erie Canal. 

 

In recent years, however, the ecological importance of the river has warranted a vast restoration effort, and the river today has a wide variety of economical and recreational uses. There are numerous islands in the Detroit River, and much of the lower portion of the river is incorporated into the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. The portion of the river in the city of Detroit has been organized into the Detroit International Riverfront and the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor.