Michipicoten Island
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lake Superior |
| Area | 184 km2 (71 sq mi) |
| Country | |
|
Canada
|
|
| Province |  Ontario |
| District | Thunder Bay District, Ontario |
Michipicoten Island is an island in Ontario, Canada, in the northeastern part of Lake Superior, approximately 175 km (109 mi) northwest of Sault Ste. Marie and 65 km (40 mi) southwest of Wawa, Ontario.[1] It falls within the boundaries of Thunder Bay District, Ontario, not Algoma District.
The second largest island in Lake Superior[2], Michipicoten Island is 27 km (17 mi) long and ten km (6 mi) wide at its widest point. Uninhabited by humans and with plentiful wildlife (notably beaver, woodland caribou, and birds), it has become a destination for some adventurous kayakers. At its closest point to mainland Ontario, the island is located about 16 km (10 mi) from land.[3]
The entire island is administered by Ontario Parks as Michipicoten Island Provincial Park. The island is made up of ancient lava bedrock related to volcanism of the Midcontinent Rift System[4] and is heavily forested, with several inland lakes.
A lighthouse was established in 1912 on the eastern end of the island.
On some old maps, Michipicoten Island is shown as Isle Maurepas, after the French minister of Marine Jean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, Count of Maurepas.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ Schwartz, Seymour I. The Mismapping of America. University of Rochester Press, 2008, pp.192-195
[edit] External links
- Ontario government documents regarding Michipicoten Island
- Information on the island from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
- Description of a commercial kayaking trip to Michipicoten Island, with information about the island
- [5]Story of two sea kayakers rescued by the Coast Guard off Michipicoten Island
Coordinates: 47°44′N 85°45′W / 47.733°N 85.75°W
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