What is the only U.S. state to border both an ocean and a Great Lake?

Many who see the Great Lakes for the first time say that one alone appears to be an ocean, because they are so large across the horizon. There are five Great Lakes in North America: Lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, and Erie. The lakes drain into the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence River. The five lakes combined make up the largest body of fresh water on the planet, covering an area of 95,000 sq miles (246,000 km2), and accounting for nearly 20% of all fresh water on Earth’s surface.

These impressive bodies of water border eight U.S. states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, but only one of those states also has borders along an ocean.

The western edge of New York has coasts on both Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, while on its eastern side, the state meets the Atlantic Ocean. New York is also the only U.S. state to border the Saint Lawrence River.

The Lakes have long played an important role in the economies of both Canada and the United States. Each one (with the exception of Lake Michigan) straddles the border between both countries. They all function as entry and exit points to the continent by sea, which promotes international trade.