Kelleys Island State Park

Kelleys Island, in the western basin of Lake Erie, was formed during the glacial period when massive ice sheets from Canada advanced into Ohio • Glaciers gouged and scoured the bedrock, and their tremendous weight left deep depressions which filled with meltwater as the climate warmed and the glaciers retreated, forming the Great Lakes • Evidence of the glaciers can still be seen in the grooves and striations in the island’s limestone bedrock • A large tract of grooves, 15 feet deep and 35 feet wide, has been exposed by an historic quarrying operation, and is believed to be the largest example of glacial striations in the world • Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes, ranging from 25 feet deep in the western basin, to a depth of 120 feet in the eastern basin • As a result of its lopsided, shallow basin Lake Erie is known for its sudden, violent storms with high waves • Its warm temperatures produce greater numbers and varieties of fish than any other Great Lake, including walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass and white bass.

East Harbor State Park & Office (419)734-4424

Privately operated ferries offer frequent daily service for cars, RVs, bicyclists and pedestrians from the mainland at Marblehead and Sandusky • Golf carts and bicycles are available for rent from private vendors • The Lake Erie Shores and Island Welcome Center is an excellent source for travel options and ideas, go to www.shoresandislands.com or call 800-255-3743.