List of Lake Erie Islands

Lake Erie Islands

The Lake Erie Islands are a chain of archipelagic islands in Lake Erie. They include Kelleys Island, Pelee Island, the Bass Islands, and several others. The majority of these islands are under the sovereignty of Ohio in the United States. Pelee Island is the only major island administered by Ontario, while the smaller Middle Island is the southernmost point in Canada. Most islands that are large enough are popular tourist attractions with car ferries running from the mainland and between some islands and some small airports and numerous private marinas offering other ways to reach the islands. Combined with nearby Sandusky and Port Clinton, Ohio, the islands are part of the collective area known regionally as "Vacationland".^[1]

Economy

Most of the islands remain financially stable via tourism. Grape growing and wineries were once the mainstay of the economy. Kelleys is heavily forested and has replaced them almost entirely, South Bass is more developed and still has a few large vineyards. Pelee is the only major island where vineyards remain popular. Limestone quarrying still occurs on Kellys Island; as well, there are a few hobby farms.

Residents

Most of the islands are headed by a small group of year-round residents. However, eager vacationers often raise the populations dramatically during the summer months, most notable on South Bass Island, which is the most tourist-friendly of the islands despite its small size.

Lake Erie islands

Map of the Lake Erie Islands.

Alvar habitat on Kelleys Island. Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial is barely visible in the distance on neighboring South Bass Island

Green Island from the air, with South Bass Island in the foreground

Name	State/Province	Area sq. mi.[2](km²)[3]	Location	Inhabited?[4]
Pelee Island	Ontario	16.140 sq. mi. (41.79 km²)	41°46′00″N 82°38′27″W / 41.7667°N 82.6409°W	Yes
Kelleys Island	Ohio	4.41 sq. mi. (11.42 km²)	41°36′05″N 82°41′51″W / 41.601389°N 82.6975°W	Yes
South Bass Island	Ohio	2.482 sq. mi. (6.428 km²)	41°38′59″N 82°49′08″W / 41.6497°N 82.8189°W	Yes
Middle Bass Island	Ohio	1.258 sq. mi. (3.258 km²)	41°40′45″N 82°48′40″W / 41.679167°N 82.811111°W	Yes
North Bass Island	Ohio	1.076 sq. mi. (2.786 km²)	41°43′00″N 82°49′00″W / 41.716667°N 82.816667°W	Yes
Johnson's Island	Ohio	0.469 sq. mi. (1.215 km²)	41°29′47″N 82°44′05″W / 41.4963°N 82.7346°W	Yes
Rattlesnake Island	Ohio	0.133 sq. mi. (0.344 km²)	41°40′45″N 82°50′57″W / 41.6791°N 82.8493°W	Yes
West Sister Island	Ohio	0.120 sq. mi. (0.311 km²)	41°44′23″N 83°06′19″W / 41.739722°N 83.105278°W	No Longer
Middle Island	Ontario	0.072 sq. mi. (0.186 km²)	41°40′57″N 82°41′04″W / 41.6825°N 82.684444°W	No Longer
East Sister Island	Ontario	0.058 sq. mi. (0.150 km²)	41°48′47″N 82°51′23″W / 41.813056°N 82.856389°W	No
Sugar Island	Ohio	0.047 sq. mi. (0.123 km²)	41°41′31″N 82°49′34″W / 41.692°N 82.826°W	Yes
Green Island	Ohio	0.027 sq. mi. (0.069 km²)	41°38′44″N 82°51′54″W / 41.6456°N 82.8651°W	No Longer
Ballast Island	Ohio	0.019 sq. mi. (0.049 km²)	41°40′40″N 82°47′07″W / 41.6778°N 82.7853°W	Yes
Mouse Island	Ohio		41°35′28″N 82°49′59″W / 41.59111°N 82.83306°W	No Longer
Gibraltar Island	Ohio	0.010 sq. mi. (0.026 km²)	41°39′30″N 82°49′14″W / 41.6582°N 82.8206°W	Yes
Indian Island	Michigan		41°45′08″N 83°23′27″W / 41.752202°N 83.390962°W	No
Hen Island and her "Chickens": Big Chicken, Chick, and Little Chicken islands	Ontario		41°47′18″N 82°47′51″W / 41.788333°N 82.7975°W	Hen Yes, the "chickens" No
Middle Sister Island	Ontario	0.015 sq. mi. (0.039 km²)	41°50′55″N 83°00′03″W / 41.8487°N 83.0007°W	No Longer
North Harbour Island	Ontario		41°49′30″N 82°51′36″W / 41.825°N 82.86°W	Yes
Turtle Island	Ohio/Michigan	0.002 sq. mi. (0.005 km²)	41°45′09″N 83°23′28″W / 41.7525°N 83.391111°W	No Longer
Ryerson's Island	Ontario		42°36′08″N 80°16′54″W / 42.602358°N 80.281611°W	Yes
Second Island	Ontario		42°35′24″N 80°16′15″W / 42.589883°N 80.270843°W	No
Starve Island	Ohio	0.003 sq. mi. (0.008 km²)	41°37′36″N 82°49′21″W / 41.626667°N 82.8225°W	No
Buckeye Island	Ohio		41°39′53″N 82°47′25″W / 41.6648°N 82.7904°W	No
Lost Ballast Island	Ohio		41°40′32″N 82°47′11″W / 41.675475°N 82.786383°W	No
Snow Island	Ontario		42°34′47″N 80°15′33″W / 42.579731°N 80.259129°W	No
Mohawk Island (formerly Gull Island)	Ontario	0.015 sq. mi. (0.039 km²)	42°50′02″N 79°31′21″W / 42.833889°N 79.5225°W	No Longer
Gull Island, Ohio	Ohio		41°39′35″N 82°41′14″W / 41.659761°N 82.687328°W	No[5]
Catawba Island (former island)[6]	Ohio	5.700 sq. mi. (14.8 km²)	41°33′49″N 82°50′20″W / 41.563611°N 82.838889°W	Yes
Gard Island	Michigan		41°45′00″N 83°26′32″W / 41.750064°N 83.44212°W	No Longer
Presque Island (former island)	Pennsylvania	4.863 sq. mi. (12.594 km²)	42°09′47″N 80°06′03″W / 42.163056°N 80.100833°W	Yes
Kafralu Island	Ohio		41°27′53″N 82°40′25″W / 41.464719°N 82.673476°W	No Longer
Bird Island	New York		42°53′43″N 78°54′24″W / 42.895333°N 78.906722°W	No

See also

• Battle of Lake Erie
• Islands of the Great Lakes

References

1. "Vacationland" history - Sandusky Library
2. Land Area - Census.gov
3. Land Area - Statcan.gc.ca
4. Population - Middle Bass 2.org
5. "Lake Erie Island Sites". Middle Bass on the Web. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
6. "Catawba Island, the Great Peach Growing Center of Ohio" (PDF). Retrieved March 6, 2014.

External links

• How many islands are there in Lake Erie?
• Explore the Lake Erie Islands: Self-guided Tours to Natural Wonders & Historic Tales (pdf) — A Guide to Nature and History along the Lake Erie Coastal Ohio Trail.