The Detroit River is approximately 32 miles long and strethches between Lake St. Claire in the north down to Lake Erie in the south. The name comes from the French Rivière du Détroit, which translates literally as River of the Strait. Throughout it's history, the Detroit River has served an integral role in the shaping of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world.

The length of the river is an international border between Canada and the United States and is the only place in the contigious 48 States where the US is North of Canada. On the North/West side of the river is Detroit, Michigan and on the South/East side lies Windsor, Ontario.

Three major islands and many, many smaller islands dot the river along it's 32 mile stretch. Belle Isle is a 982 acre city park and is one of the three big islands. It is the largest island park in any major city in the United States. Farther south along the Detroit River is Grosse Isle on the US side of the river which once hosted a US Army base and is now the home to roughly ten thousands residents and numerous species of wildlife. Close by but completely on the Canadian side of the river is Fighting Island which is now owned by BASF corporation.

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