Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands

The Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands wrap around the eastern ends of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, covering Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo, and Watertown. Lake-effect snow, a growing season moderated by the water, and old lakebed soils shape the region, and the shoreline itself carries real dune and sand-plain habitat. Natives such as American beach grass, northern bayberry, and pale St. Johnswort handle those sandy lakeshore conditions and the wind that comes off the water.

Conditions: Old lakebed and sandy shoreline soils, 30–40 inches of precipitation with heavy lake-effect snow, cold winters moderated near the water.

Cities and areas: Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo, Watertown, Oswego, Auburn.