Fighting Island

Fighting Island

Fighting Island (Ontario)
Geography
Location	Detroit River
Coordinates	42°13′18″N 83°07′12″W
Area	6.06 km2 (2.34 sq mi)
Highest elevation	174 m (571 ft)
Country
Canada
Territory	Ontario
County	Essex
City	La Salle
Demographics
Population	1 (permanent)

Fighting Island is a 1,500-acre (6.1 km²) island in the Detroit River— the largest Canadian island in the river. It is part of the town of LaSalle, Ontario, Canada, opposite Wyandotte, Michigan and downriver from Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario.

Originally populated by Natives, it was settled by the French during the 18th century, and has had numerous owners since then. Indians named it Fighting Island in the late 18th century, because they used it to attack passing British ships. In the late 19th century, prize fights were often held off the island.^{[citation needed]} A number of attempts were later made to build a resort on the island, but all were unsuccessful.^{[citation needed]}

In 1918, the land was bought by John B. Ford of the Michigan Alkali Company to treat the effluent produced by the company. Michigan Alkali Company became Wyandotte Chemicals Corporation, which was subsequently bought by BASF. Today, Fighting Island is privately owned by BASF Corporation. A programme is run on the island that is used by many area secondary and elementary schools to teach students about biology and ecology.

External links

• Detroit Free Press article (with photos)