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Detroit River
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Ambassador Bridge international border crossing over the Detroit River Map of the Detroit River c. 1900 from the 10th edition of Encyclopædia Britannica.
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Ambassador Bridge international border crossing over the Detroit River
Ambassador Bridge international border crossing over the Detroit River The Ambassador Bridge spanning the Detroit River between Detroit, Michigan, U.S., and Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Detroit River

river, North America
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News •

LaSalle gets $270K crime proceeds grant for drones, river patrols • Nov. 3, 2026, 1:25 PM ET (CTV News)
Dan Gilbert Pledges $1 Billion to Redevelop Detroit's Renaissance Center • Oct. 21, 2026, 4:09 PM ET (U.S. News & World Report)
Map of the Detroit River c. 1900 from the 10th edition of Encyclopædia Britannica.
Map of the Detroit River c. 1900 from the 10th edition of Encyclopædia Britannica.

Detroit River, river forming part of the boundary between Michigan, U.S. (west), and Ontario, Can. (east), and connecting Lake St. Clair (north) with the west end of Lake Erie (south). The river flows southwest and south for 32 miles (51 km) between Detroit and Windsor, Ont. It is crossed completely by a bridge and a tunnel and is 1 to 1.5 miles (1.5 to 2.5 km) wide. The largest islands in the river are Belle Isle (a city park of Detroit) and Grosse Ile (a residential area with an airport), both in Michigan, and Fighting Island in Ontario. The river is heavily used by both pleasure craft and Great Lakes shipping. Its shores contain a variety of cultural landscapes, from the wealthy Detroit suburbs of Grosse Pointe and Grosse Pointe Shores to the heavy manufacturing areas of South Detroit and Trenton.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Lorraine Murray.
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