The following is a description of islands in the Detroit River. The
Detroit River
The Detroit River flows west and south for from Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie as a strait in the Great Lakes system. The river divides the metropolitan areas of Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, Windsor, Ontario—an area collectively refe ...
is a major waterway in the
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes in the mid-east region of North America that connect to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River. There are five lakes ...
system, and it flows for from
Lake St. Clair
Lake St. Clair (french: Lac Sainte-Claire) is a freshwater lake that lies between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Michigan. It was named in 1679 by French Catholic explorers after Saint Clare of Assisi, on whose feast day ...
south to
Lake Erie
Lake Erie ( "eerie") is the fourth largest lake by surface area of the five Great Lakes in North America and the eleventh-largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has t ...
. The river serves as a major shipping channel, jointly controlled by the United States and Canada, and it is a major component of the
Canada–United States border
The border between Canada and the United States is the longest international border in the world. The terrestrial boundary (including boundaries in the Great Lakes, Atlantic, and Pacific coasts) is long. The land border has two sections: Can ...
. The majority of islands are on the American side of the river, which are all within
Wayne County in
Michigan
Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...
. The Canadian islands are part of
Essex County in
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
. There are no islands in the Detroit River that are divided by the international border, as Michigan and Ontario share no land borders at any point.
Most of the islands are very small and uninhabited, and many of these islands around the southern portion of the river serve as
nature reserve
A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or ...
s as part of the
Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is the only international wildlife refuge in North America. Established in 2001 and managed jointly by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service, it is located in ...
. The largest and most populated island is
Grosse Ile, and many islands are part of
Grosse Ile Township
Grosse Ile Township is a civil township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,777 at the 2020 census.
The township encompasses several islands in the Detroit River, of which the largest is named as Grosse Ile. N ...
. Several islands were also artificially created by canals, such as several islands within the city of
Gibraltar
)
, anthem = " God Save the King"
, song = " Gibraltar Anthem"
, image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg
, map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe
, map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green
, mapsize =
, image_map2 = Gib ...
, as well as
Elizabeth Park and
Zug Island
Zug Island is a heavily industrialized island within the city of River Rouge at the southern city limits of Detroit in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located where the mouth of the River Rouge spills into the Detroit River. Zug Island is n ...
.
Michigan
Belle Isle
Belle Isle () is a island in the northeastern portion of the Detroit River just north of
Downtown Detroit
Downtown Detroit is the central business district and a residential area of the city of Detroit, Michigan, United States. Locally, downtown tends to refer to the 1.4 square mile region bordered by M-10 (Lodge Freeway) to the west, Interstate 75 ( ...
. Belle Isle sits at an elevation of above sea level, and the island has also gone by several historic names. It is the northernmost island in the river just downstream from
Lake St. Clair
Lake St. Clair (french: Lac Sainte-Claire) is a freshwater lake that lies between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Michigan. It was named in 1679 by French Catholic explorers after Saint Clare of Assisi, on whose feast day ...
. Because of the curve in the river, Belle Isle is just west of (Southbound on the river) the Canadian
Peche Island
Peche Island ( French pronunciation anglicized to , therefore occasionally misspelled "Peach"), is an uninhabited, currently (reduced by erosion from a 1965 measurement of 109 acres / 43.7 ha) Canadian-owned island in the Detroit River, at it ...
, which is the easternmost and first island in the river heading South. It is the third-largest island in the river after
Grosse Ile and
Fighting Island
Fighting Island is a island in the Detroit River, and is the largest Canadian island in the river. It is part of the town of LaSalle, Ontario, Canada, opposite Wyandotte, Michigan, and downriver from Detroit and Windsor.
History
Originally pop ...
. The island is within the city limits of
Detroit
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...
but is administered by the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the agency of the state of Michigan charged with maintaining natural resources such as state parks, state forests, and recreation areas. It is governed by a director appointed by the Governor a ...
, as the island was designated as a state park named
Belle Isle Park
Belle Isle Park, known simply as Belle Isle (), is a island park in Detroit, Michigan, developed in the late 19th century. It consists of Belle Isle, an island in the Detroit River, as well as several surrounding islets. The U.S.-Canada border ...
in 2014. The island is connected to the mainland by the
MacArthur Bridge, which carries
East Grand Boulevard and connects to
East Jefferson Avenue. Belle Isle has no permanent population.
The island is a very popular tourist destination that contains a number of historic structures and events. The entire island is listed as a
historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries or jurisdictions, historic districts receive legal protection from c ...
on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
and also as a
Michigan State Historic Site
The Michigan State Historic Preservation Office is one of 59 state historic preservation offices established according to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 that plays a role in implementing federal historic preservation policy in the ...
. The island itself also contains several lakes, including the Blue Heron Lagoon, Lake Muskoday, Lake Okonoda, Lake Takoma, and several artificial canals. These lakes also contain several unnamed
recursive islands (islands within an island).
Calf Island
Calf Island () is an island off the southwest coast of
Grosse Ile. The island sits at an elevation of above sea level. The island, which is within
Grosse Ile Township
Grosse Ile Township is a civil township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,777 at the 2020 census.
The township encompasses several islands in the Detroit River, of which the largest is named as Grosse Ile. N ...
, is uninhabited and serves primarily as a nesting location for migrating birds. In 2002, Calf Island became part of the
Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is the only international wildlife refuge in North America. Established in 2001 and managed jointly by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service, it is located in ...
.
Celeron Island
Celeron Island () is a island near the mouth of the Detroit River at
Lake Erie
Lake Erie ( "eerie") is the fourth largest lake by surface area of the five Great Lakes in North America and the eleventh-largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has t ...
. Celeron Island is the southernmost island within
Grosse Ile Township
Grosse Ile Township is a civil township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,777 at the 2020 census.
The township encompasses several islands in the Detroit River, of which the largest is named as Grosse Ile. N ...
and sits at an elevation of above sea level. Due to erosion, it now comprises two separate islands. Celeron Island is uninhabited and administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, as the island was included into
Pointe Mouillee State Game Area
Pointe Mouillee State Game Area (; or ) is a state game area in the U.S. state of Michigan. It encompasses of hunting, recreational, and protected wildlife and wetland areas at the mouth of the Huron River at Lake Erie, as well as smaller ou ...
in 1976.
Cherry Island
Cherry Island () is an uninhabited island within
Brownstown Charter Township just south of the city of Gibraltar. Also referred to as Cherry Isle, the island sits at an elevation of above sea level.
The island is part of
Lake Erie Metropark
Lake Erie Metropark is a park in the Huron-Clinton system of metro parks. The park is a recreational facility located between the mouth of the Huron River on Lake Erie to the south and the City of Gibraltar to the north, and consists of natural ...
and contains the park's boat launch.
Cherry Island is also listed by the
GNIS
The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) is a database of name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features throughout the United States and its territories, Antarctica, and the associated states of ...
as an unincorporated community and populated place.
Edmond Island
Edmond Island () is an artificial island within the city of
Gibraltar
)
, anthem = " God Save the King"
, song = " Gibraltar Anthem"
, image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg
, map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe
, map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green
, mapsize =
, image_map2 = Gib ...
. It separated from the mainland by a narrow canal and contains a single bridge. The island sits at an elevation of above sea level. It is one of the main populated islands of Gibraltar, and it is sometimes spelled as Edmund Island.
Elba Island
Elba Island () is an elongated island off the southeast coast of
Grosse Ile and is administered by
Grosse Ile Township
Grosse Ile Township is a civil township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,777 at the 2020 census.
The township encompasses several islands in the Detroit River, of which the largest is named as Grosse Ile. N ...
. It is separated from Grosse Ile by the Oldani Marsh.
Elba Island contains a single roadway and is connected by a single bridge to Grosse Ile. The island sits at an elevation of above sea level.
Elizabeth Park
Elizabeth Park () is an artificial island within the city of
Trenton. The island is located on the western shores of the Trenton Channel and sits at an elevation of above sea level. Once connected to the mainland, it was set off by the construction of a canal by landowner Giles Bryan Slocum in the mid-nineteenth century. The island became known as Slocum's Island, and the property was donated to the county in 1918. The Slocum's Island name has now largely fallen into disuse. Today, the island encompasses the
Elizabeth Park on the northern end and the
Trenton Channel Power Plant
The Trenton Channel Power Plant, also known as the Trenton Stacks, was a coal-burning power station located in Trenton, Michigan. Completed in 1924, it is owned by Detroit Edison, a subsidiary of DTE Energy.
Location
Part of the facility's prope ...
on the south. The two are separated by the Grosse Ile Parkway, which carries the
Wayne County Bridge
The Wayne County Bridge is a swing bridge that crosses the Trenton Channel in the Detroit River. Located in Wayne County, Michigan, it connects Grosse Ile Township to mainland Trenton and is one of two bridges connecting the island of Grosse ...
leading to
Grosse Ile.
Fox Island
Fox Island () is a small and uninhabited island located off the southeast coast of
Grosse Ile just east of Elba Island. The island is privately owned and part of
Grosse Ile Township
Grosse Ile Township is a civil township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,777 at the 2020 census.
The township encompasses several islands in the Detroit River, of which the largest is named as Grosse Ile. N ...
.
[ The island sits at an elevation of above sea level.
]
Grassy Island
Grassy Island () is a island just north of Grosse Ile and west of Fighting Island
Fighting Island is a island in the Detroit River, and is the largest Canadian island in the river. It is part of the town of LaSalle, Ontario, Canada, opposite Wyandotte, Michigan, and downriver from Detroit and Windsor.
History
Originally pop ...
. The uninhabited island is part of the city of Wyandotte. Originally, the island was much smaller, but it served as a disposal facility for millions of cubic yards of sediments that were dredged from the expanding of the River Rouge. In 2001, Grassy Island was an inaugural addition to the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is the only international wildlife refuge in North America. Established in 2001 and managed jointly by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service, it is located in ...
, although access to the island is restricted and difficult.
Grassy Island sits at an elevation of . It once contained the former Grassy Island Light. Grassy Island should not be confused with another island on the opposite side of the river named Grass Island, which is part of Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
.
Grosse Ile
Grosse Ile () is the largest island in the Detroit River. The island sits at an elevation of above sea level in the southern portion of the river. The island itself has no precise area or population statistics, although it is approximately long and wide. Grosse Ile is the main island within Grosse Ile Township
Grosse Ile Township is a civil township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,777 at the 2020 census.
The township encompasses several islands in the Detroit River, of which the largest is named as Grosse Ile. N ...
, and it is often referred to as the "big island" or "main island" to distinguish it from the township as a whole, which contains a dozen individual islands.
Grosse Ile connects to the mainland by the Wayne County Bridge
The Wayne County Bridge is a swing bridge that crosses the Trenton Channel in the Detroit River. Located in Wayne County, Michigan, it connects Grosse Ile Township to mainland Trenton and is one of two bridges connecting the island of Grosse ...
in the middle of the island and the Grosse Ile Toll Bridge
The Grosse Ile Toll Bridge is a swing bridge that crosses the Trenton Channel of the Detroit River connecting Grosse Ile Township, Michigan to the mainland in Riverview, Michigan which is located in Wayne County, Michigan.
History
The Grosse Il ...
on the northern end. The Grosse Ile Municipal Airport
Grosse Ile Municipal Airport is two miles south of Grosse Ile, in Wayne County, Michigan. It is owned by the Township of Grosse Ile. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021 categori ...
is located on the southern end of the island. The island also contains a number of smaller bridges that traverse the island's canals and connect to the smaller islands to the south. Grosse Ile contains numerous historic structures and is primarily residential with little economic development. The island is bisected by the Thorofare Canal and another canal that separates the undeveloped northern portion of the island referred to as Hennepin Point. The Gibraltar Bay Unit of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is the only international wildlife refuge in North America. Established in 2001 and managed jointly by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service, it is located in ...
is located in the southeast portion of the island.
Hall Island
Hall Island () is an inhabited island within the city of Gibraltar
)
, anthem = " God Save the King"
, song = " Gibraltar Anthem"
, image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg
, map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe
, map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green
, mapsize =
, image_map2 = Gib ...
.[ It is centrally located within the city just east of Main Island and north of Edmond Island. It is connected to the mainland and Main Island by two bridges along Stoeflet Street.
]
Humbug Island
Humbug Island () is an elongated island within the city of Gibraltar
)
, anthem = " God Save the King"
, song = " Gibraltar Anthem"
, image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg
, map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe
, map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green
, mapsize =
, image_map2 = Gib ...
just northwest of Calf Island. It is included in the much larger Humbug Marsh
Humbug Marsh, a wetland in southeastern Wayne County, Michigan, is a constituent element of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. It is listed as a Ramsar wetland of international importance.
Although Humbug Marsh is located within he ...
, which was included into the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is the only international wildlife refuge in North America. Established in 2001 and managed jointly by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service, it is located in ...
in 2004.[ The island is uninhabited and inaccessible, and it is noted as the last undeveloped shoreline on the American side of the Detroit River.
]
Hickory Island
Hickory Island () is the southernmost populated island within Grosse Ile Township
Grosse Ile Township is a civil township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,777 at the 2020 census.
The township encompasses several islands in the Detroit River, of which the largest is named as Grosse Ile. N ...
. It sits at an elevation of above sea level. The island contains a single bridge connecting to Meso Island to the north leading to Grosse Ile. The Grosse Ile Yacht Club is located on Hickory Island.
Horse Island
Horse Island () is a narrow and elongated island within the city of Gibraltar
)
, anthem = " God Save the King"
, song = " Gibraltar Anthem"
, image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg
, map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe
, map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green
, mapsize =
, image_map2 = Gib ...
. It is the city's southeasternmost island and sits at an elevation of above sea level. The island is densely populated and contains a single roadway. It is connected to the mainland by the Horse Island Drive Bridge, which is long and was constructed in 1925. The island received its name from early settlers who would leave their horses to feed and mate on the island during the summer months.[
]
Main Island
Main Island () is the largest and most-populated island within the city of Gibraltar
)
, anthem = " God Save the King"
, song = " Gibraltar Anthem"
, image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg
, map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe
, map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green
, mapsize =
, image_map2 = Gib ...
.[ It is separated from the mainland by a narrow canal with a single bridge along Middle Gibraltar Road. The bridge is long and was constructed in 1932. Another bridge connects Main Island to Hall Island via Stoeflet Street. The Gibraltar Municipal Complex and the Gibraltar Historical Museum are located on Main Island. Main Island also connects to Horse Island on the southeast by the Horse Island Drive Bridge.][
]
Mamajuda Island
Mamajuda Island () was an island located just east of the northern tip of Grosse Ile (Hennepin Point) within Grosse Ile Township
Grosse Ile Township is a civil township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,777 at the 2020 census.
The township encompasses several islands in the Detroit River, of which the largest is named as Grosse Ile. N ...
. The island was once in size and contained the historic Mama Juda Lighthouse, which was first built in 1849. The lighthouse was lost by increased erosion in the 1950s, and the entire island itself disappeared soon after. The island was also known as Mammy Juda Island and sits at an elevation of above sea level. Although the island is gone, it is still listed on some online maps and may surface during times of low water levels.
Meso Island
Meso Island () is a populated island in southeast Grosse Ile Township
Grosse Ile Township is a civil township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,777 at the 2020 census.
The township encompasses several islands in the Detroit River, of which the largest is named as Grosse Ile. N ...
. The island sits at an elevation of above sea level. Hickory Island is to the south, and Meso Island connects to Grosse Ile by a single bridge. Sugar Island is just east of Meso Island.
Mud Island
Mud Island () is a island within the city of Ecorse
Ecorse ( ') is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,512 at the 2010 census.
Ecorse is part of the Downriver community within Metro Detroit. The city shares a northwestern border with the city of Detroit ...
. The island was donated by the National Steel Corporation
The National Steel Corporation (1929–2003) was a major American steel producer. It was founded in 1929 through a merger arranged by Weirton Steel with some properties of the Great Lakes Steel Corporation and M.A. Hanna Company with headquart ...
and is the northernmost unit included in the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is the only international wildlife refuge in North America. Established in 2001 and managed jointly by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service, it is located in ...
.[ Mud Island is just north of ]Grassy Island
Grassy Island is a small, uninhabited American island in the Detroit River. It is located just north of Grosse Ile and west of Fighting Island, about west of the Canada–United States border. The island is part of the city of Wyandotte, in ...
, and public access to the island is prohibited.[ It sits at an elevation of above sea level.
]
Powder House Island
Powder House Island () is a very small uninhabited island in southeast Grosse Ile Township
Grosse Ile Township is a civil township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,777 at the 2020 census.
The township encompasses several islands in the Detroit River, of which the largest is named as Grosse Ile. N ...
. It is located just northeast of Fox Island in the middle of the river near the international border. Powder House Island sits at an elevation of above sea level. The island may also be referred to as Dynamite Island.[
]
Round Island
Round Island () is an uninhabited island of Grosse Ile Township
Grosse Ile Township is a civil township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,777 at the 2020 census.
The township encompasses several islands in the Detroit River, of which the largest is named as Grosse Ile. N ...
. It sits at an elevation of above sea level. Unlike other islands at the southern tip of Grosse Ile, Round Island is undeveloped. It is separated from Grosse Ile by a narrow canal that is used for docking boats at the Ford Yacht Club.
Stony Island
250px, View of Stony Island from Grosse Ile
Stony Island () is uninhabited island within Grosse Ile Township
Grosse Ile Township is a civil township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,777 at the 2020 census.
The township encompasses several islands in the Detroit River, of which the largest is named as Grosse Ile. N ...
just east of Grosse Ile and west of the international border from Crystal Island.[ Stony Island sits at an elevation of above sea level. The island's unusual shape and stony composition are the result of millions of cubic yards of sediment that were dredged out of the middle of the Detroit River to provide a deep shipping lane. The island has also been reinforced and surrounded by numerous breakwater structures to protect the artificial wetlands. The island has undergone this restoration project with funding from the ]National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (abbreviated as NOAA ) is an United States scientific and regulatory agency within the United States Department of Commerce that forecasts weather, monitors oceanic and atmospheric conditio ...
. Most of the island is included as part of Pointe Mouillee State Game Area
Pointe Mouillee State Game Area (; or ) is a state game area in the U.S. state of Michigan. It encompasses of hunting, recreational, and protected wildlife and wetland areas at the mouth of the Huron River at Lake Erie, as well as smaller ou ...
.[
]
Sturgeon Bar
Sturgeon Bar (), sometimes listed as Sturgeon Bar Island, is the southernmost island in the Detroit River and is part of Brownstown Charter Township.[ The island sits at an elevation of above sea level. Sturgeon Bar is part of the ]Lake Erie Metropark
Lake Erie Metropark is a park in the Huron-Clinton system of metro parks. The park is a recreational facility located between the mouth of the Huron River on Lake Erie to the south and the City of Gibraltar to the north, and consists of natural ...
, and the Metropark is also included as a unit within the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is the only international wildlife refuge in North America. Established in 2001 and managed jointly by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service, it is located in ...
.[
]
Sugar Island
Sugar Island () is an uninhabited island off the southwest coast of Grosse Ile within Grosse Ile Township
Grosse Ile Township is a civil township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,777 at the 2020 census.
The township encompasses several islands in the Detroit River, of which the largest is named as Grosse Ile. N ...
. It is just east of Meso Island near the international border.[ The island sits at an elevation of above sea level.
Beginning in the 1880s, Sugar Island became a popular resort location, and it eventually contained an amusement park and other entertainment venues. Ferry services brought guest to and from the island until the 1940s when the amusement park closed. The island soon fell into disuse and ruins. In 2012, the deserted island was purchased by the ]United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The mission of the agency is "working with othe ...
and soon after included as a unit in the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is the only international wildlife refuge in North America. Established in 2001 and managed jointly by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service, it is located in ...
. The island contains no structures, and access to the island is restricted.
Swan Island
Swan Island () is the smallest of the inhabited islands of Grosse Ile Township
Grosse Ile Township is a civil township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,777 at the 2020 census.
The township encompasses several islands in the Detroit River, of which the largest is named as Grosse Ile. N ...
. Swan Island is located southwest of Grosse Ile, and it is separated by a narrow canal and connected by a single bridge. The island sits at an elevation of above sea level.
Zug Island
Zug Island () is a island in the city of River Rouge just south of the city of Detroit. It sits at an elevation of above sea level. Zug Island is an artificial island
An artificial island is an island that has been constructed by people rather than formed by natural means. Artificial islands may vary in size from small islets reclaimed solely to support a single pillar of a building or structure to those tha ...
that was once connected to the mainland at the mouth of the River Rouge, but its original landowner had a small canal created to set the land off as an island. In 1902, the island became site of several steel mills during the age of rapid industrial development along the Detroit River. Today, Zug Island houses a large steel mill owned by U.S. Steel
United States Steel Corporation, more commonly known as U.S. Steel, is an American integrated steel producer headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with production operations primarily in the United States of America and in severa ...
, and public access is strictly prohibited.
Ontario
Bois Blanc Island
Bois Blanc Island (), popularly known as Boblo Island, is a island in the southeast portion of the Detroit River. It is the southernmost Canadian island in the river and is administered by the town of Amherstburg
Amherstburg is a town near the mouth of the Detroit River in Essex County, Ontario, Canada. In 1796, Fort Malden was established here, stimulating growth in the settlement. The fort has been designated as a National Historic Site.
The town is ...
.
In 1836, the Bois Blanc Island Lighthouse and Blockhouse
The Bois Blanc Island Lighthouse and Blockhouse is a National Historic Site of Canada located in Ontario on Bois Blanc Island, one of the islands in the Detroit River. It consists of a lighthouse, owned by Parks Canada, and a blockhouse, ...
were constructed on the island as an aid to navigation at the mouth of the Detroit River. The island then served as a military outpost. The lighthouse was decommissioned in the late 1950s, but the structures remain to this day. The island is most famously known as the location for the Boblo Island Amusement Park
Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994.
The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the ...
, which operated from 1898 to 1993. Ferries services routinely brought Americans to the island from the Boblo Island Detroit Dock further upstream. The island has no bridges connecting to the mainland; local ferries continue to serve the residents that now live in upscale housing on the northside of the island. The southside, where the amusement park once stood, remains undeveloped. The island is accessible to the public.
Crystal Island
Crystal Island () is an artificial island located directly across the international border from Stony Island.[ Though it is uninhabited, it is part of the town of ]Amherstburg
Amherstburg is a town near the mouth of the Detroit River in Essex County, Ontario, Canada. In 1796, Fort Malden was established here, stimulating growth in the settlement. The fort has been designated as a National Historic Site.
The town is ...
. Similar to Stony Island, it was created to provide and mark a deeper shipping lane, and the island has a very irregular shape. Crystal Island's odd shape created a pristine inlet known as Crystal Bay. The small bay is protected by the island from the river's current and pollution, thus creating an unusually calm and clear shelter. While the island itself is off limits since it serves as a nature preserve, the bay is a popular destination for boaters and fishermen.
Fighting Island
Fighting Island () is the largest Canadian island in the Detroit River at . It is the second largest island in the river after Grosse Ile.[ Fighting Island is administered by the town of LaSalle, but it is privately owned by the German-based ]BASF
BASF Societas Europaea, SE () is a German multinational corporation, multinational chemical company and the List of largest chemical producers, largest chemical producer in the world. Its headquarters is located in Ludwigshafen, Germany.
The ...
, which has a facility across the river in Wyandotte.
The island originally had a small indigenous population before it was purchased by the Michigan Alkali Company in 1918. The company used the island as a dumping ground for waste. The island served as a dumping ground until at least 1982. In 1989, it was reported that 80% of the island was covered in highly acidic brine waste, which also caused dust clouds to travel to nearby communities. BASF purchased the company (by then Wyandotte Chemical Company) in the early 1970s,[Richard Leonard and Zack Nauth. 1990]
Beating BASF: OCAW Busts Union-Buster
. ''Labor Research Review'' 1(16): 39–49. and has since done a large-scale cleanup and restoration of the island. The island remains undeveloped and serves as a growing nature refuge and educational retreat.
Grass Island
Grass Island () is an extremely narrow and elongated island between Fighting Island
Fighting Island is a island in the Detroit River, and is the largest Canadian island in the river. It is part of the town of LaSalle, Ontario, Canada, opposite Wyandotte, Michigan, and downriver from Detroit and Windsor.
History
Originally pop ...
and mainland LaSalle, which administers the island.[ The island is uninhabited and undeveloped. The island is sometimes referred to as ]Grassy Island
Grassy Island is a small, uninhabited American island in the Detroit River. It is located just north of Grosse Ile and west of Fighting Island, about west of the Canada–United States border. The island is part of the city of Wyandotte, in ...
, which is an American island on the exact opposite side of the river.
Peche Island
Peche Island () is an island at the very beginning of the Detroit River at Lake St. Clair
Lake St. Clair (french: Lac Sainte-Claire) is a freshwater lake that lies between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Michigan. It was named in 1679 by French Catholic explorers after Saint Clare of Assisi, on whose feast day ...
. It is within the city of Windsor
Windsor may refer to:
Places Australia
* Windsor, New South Wales
** Municipality of Windsor, a former local government area
* Windsor, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland
**Shire of Windsor, a former local government authority around Wi ...
. It is the easternmost island in the river and is just east of Belle Isle. Peche Island was historically known by its French names Isle aux Pêcheurs (Fisherman Island) and Isle a la Pêche (Fishing Island), but it was sometimes referred to as Peach Island due to the English pronunciation.
The island was originally privately owned and used as a lavish summer residence for Hiram Walker
Hiram Walker (July 4, 1816 – January 12, 1899) was an American entrepreneur and founder of the Hiram Walker and Sons Ltd. distillery in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Walker was born in East Douglas, Massachusetts, and moved to Detroit in 1838. He p ...
and later others. Later owners attempted to profit and turn the island into an amusement park and resort destination similar to Belle Isle and Boblo Island Amusement Park
Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994.
The park was located on Bois Blanc Island, Ontario, just above the mouth of the ...
, but these plans never came to fruition. The island was eventually sold to the Province of Ontario and converted into a provincial park in 1974, but the island had no future plans. The City of Windsor purchased the unused island in 1999. The island has since remained undeveloped and serves as a nature preserve and city park.
Turkey Island
Turkey Island () is a small uninhabited island just south of Fighting Island
Fighting Island is a island in the Detroit River, and is the largest Canadian island in the river. It is part of the town of LaSalle, Ontario, Canada, opposite Wyandotte, Michigan, and downriver from Detroit and Windsor.
History
Originally pop ...
. The island is within the town of Amherstburg
Amherstburg is a town near the mouth of the Detroit River in Essex County, Ontario, Canada. In 1796, Fort Malden was established here, stimulating growth in the settlement. The fort has been designated as a National Historic Site.
The town is ...
. The island is privately owned, inaccessible, and undeveloped.[
]
See also
*Detroit River
The Detroit River flows west and south for from Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie as a strait in the Great Lakes system. The river divides the metropolitan areas of Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, Windsor, Ontario—an area collectively refe ...
*Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is the only international wildlife refuge in North America. Established in 2001 and managed jointly by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service, it is located in ...
*List of islands of Michigan
The following is a list of islands of Michigan. Michigan has the second longest coastline of any state after Alaska. Being bordered by four of the five Great Lakes—Erie, Huron, Michigan, and Superior—Michigan also has 64,980 inland lakes and ...
*List of islands of Ontario
This is a list of islands of Ontario.
Lake Abitibi
* Black Island
* Kenosha Island
* Mistaken Islands
Albany River
* Albany Island
* Big Island
* Blackbear Island
* Byrd Island
* Cheepay Island
* Comb Island
* Fafard Island
* Fa ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Islands In The Detroit River
*
*
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Detroit-related lists
Detroit River
The Detroit River flows west and south for from Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie as a strait in the Great Lakes system. The river divides the metropolitan areas of Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, Windsor, Ontario—an area collectively refe ...
Detroit River
The Detroit River flows west and south for from Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie as a strait in the Great Lakes system. The river divides the metropolitan areas of Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, Windsor, Ontario—an area collectively refe ...
Geography of Detroit
Islands of Wayne County, Michigan
Landforms of Windsor, Ontario
Landforms of Essex County, Ontario
Lists of landforms of Michigan
.
Rivers-related lists
Islands, Detroit River