Overview:
The Detroit River is about 51 km (32 miles) long and 1 to 4 km
(0.5 to 2.5 miles) wide in the Great Lakes system. The name
comes from French Rivière du Détroit, i.e. "River of the
Strait". The name is a reference to the fact that the river
connects Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie. However, it is not a
strait by definition. The boundary between Canada and the United
States of America passes through the river lengthwise. Its
elevation is 175 meters (579 feet) above sea level.
Geography:
Tributaries
While primarily a lake outlet, the Detroit River does have a few
tributaries of its own which drain 2,000 km² (772 mi²). These
include the Rouge River, Ecorse River, Conner Creek and Marsh
Creek in the U.S., and Turkey Creek, Little River and Canard
River in Canada.
Islands
Islands in the Detroit River include Peche Island, Belle Isle,
Zug Island, Fighting Island, Grosse Ile, and Bois Blanc (also
known as Boblo) Island. The islands of the lower Detroit River
are part of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.
History
Historical events concerning the Detroit River began with the
arrival of the French voyageurs, the first non-natives to
navigate the river and land on Detroit's shores. Canoes made of
birch or elm bark were a common mode of travel across the river,
although the pirogue and bateaux were also used.
The War of 1812 was partially fought along the Detroit River
front, and by 1850, the census showed 21,019 people populated
Detroit. Ferries, schooners and steamboats were found traveling
along the river.
During the Civil War, the river was patrolled in case of a
Confederate attack from the Canadian north.
As commerce grew, Detroit was becoming the busiest port in the
world, and was dubbed "the Greatest Commercial Artery on Earth."
67,292,504 tonnage had passed through the Detroit River in 1907,
compared with 18,727,230 through London, and 20,390,953 through
New York City.
From 1919 to 1933, when Prohibition outlawed the manufacture,
distribution and purchase of alcoholic beverages in the United
States, the Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair
River carried 75 percent of all liquor smuggled into the United
States[1]. It was known as "The Detroit-Windsor Funnel".
