Lake Erie usually has a higher albedo than Lake Ontario. In this satellite image, however, the respective brightnesses are reversed. (Lake Ontario underwent a similar brightening last year about this same time.) A wave pattern can be seen in Lake Ontario extending eastward from the Niagara River along the southern shore. This is possibly water from Lake Erie flowing toward the St. Lawrence River getting mixed as it goes. Several major U.S. and Canadian cities are visible as grayish splotches.