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Flower Island (San Juan Islands)

Coordinates: 48°32′42″N 122°51′14″W / 48.5451°N 122.8540°W / 48.5451; -122.8540
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Flower Island
Flower Island is located in Washington (state)
Flower Island
Flower Island
Geography
LocationSan Juan County, Washington
Coordinates48°32′42″N 122°51′14″W / 48.5451°N 122.8540°W / 48.5451; -122.8540
ArchipelagoSan Juan
Administration

Flower Island is one of the San Juan Islands in San Juan County, Washington, USA. The uninhabited, rocky island has a land area of 4.6 acres (1.9 hectares) and is almost completely devoid of vegetation.[1] Located off the coast from Spencer Spit State Park, it is a popular nesting location for gulls.

Flower Island was occupied for two summers in the 1930s by Floyd and Ruth Schmoe and their children while Floyd Schmoe was studying at the Friday Harbor Laboratories. Because the island was not, at the time, listed on tax rolls, the Schmoes were able to claim squatters' rights.[2]

Currently, Flower Island is part of the San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuge and is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.[3] As with almost all of the islands in the refuge, human access is prohibited and boats may not approach to within 200 yards (180 m).[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Geology of the San Juan Islands". cr.nps.gov. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Island Solitude". historylink.org. HistoryInk. 29 October 2005.
  3. ^ "San Juan Wilderness". wilderness.net. Wilderness.
  4. ^ "Plan Your Visit". fws.gov. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 16 January 2015.