Manitou Island is a small island in Lake Superior, off the northeastern tip of the

Keweenaw Peninsula The Keweenaw Peninsula ( , sometimes locally ) is the northernmost part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It projects into Lake Superior and was the site of the first copper boom in the United States, leading to its moniker of "Copper Country." As o ...

in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of Grant Township, in

Keweenaw County Keweenaw County (, ; , ) is a county in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan, the state's northernmost county. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 2,046, making it Michigan's least populous county. It is also the ...

. Located approximately three miles from the mainland, it encompasses around . Manitou has seen limited impact from human activity because of its remote location and the often-treacherous waters caused by a strong current at the peninsula's tip. It is mostly forested, with scattered bogs and an inland lake known as "Perch Lake". Dense underbrush can make travel around the island rather difficult, though a few unimproved trails do exist. The Keweenaw Land Trust protects of the island as the Manitou Island Light Station Preserve.

History

Test pits have been found on the island, hinting at a short-lived past as a possible mining site. Though trees abound, Manitou's remoteness and its lack of quality timber make logging economically unfeasible. Commercial fisherman have used the island as a camping site in the past, staying overnight on the south beaches while setting their nets in the area. Today public access is facilitated by a timber and rock crib dock near the old lighthouse. Beginning in 2002, Manitou Island became the focus of an effort by local birdwatchers to explore and document the various

avian Avian may refer to: *Birds or Aves, winged animals *Avian (given name) (russian: Авиа́н, link=no), a male forename Aviation *Avro Avian, a series of light aircraft made by Avro in the 1920s and 1930s *Avian Limited, a hang glider manufacture ...

species there. Approximately 203 separate species have been recorded, including large numbers of migratory raptors and waterbirds. Observers have also compiled a "list of over 80 species as at least possible breeders." Organized observations by the Keweenaw Audubon Society are now happening regularly. Efforts to investigate this unique habitat and its feathered residents are ongoing, in conjunction with the conservation activities of the Land Trust. The large number of avian visitors should be understood in the larger context of other sites around Michigan and the Great Lakes. This would include Peninsula Point Light,

Tawas Point State Park Tawas Point State Park is a public recreation area located on Lake Huron in Northern Michigan near the city of East Tawas, Michigan. The state park encompasses at the end of a sand spit that forms Tawas Bay. It has been referred to as the "Cape ...

and Whitefish Point Light/ Whitefish Point Bird Observatory (which contains a lighthouse configured like this one). Important Bird Areas are found in many parts of Michigan.

Lighthouses

Manitou Island Light Station

Manitou Island's most important use to date has been the Manitou Island Light Station on its eastern tip. First built in 1849, this

lighthouse A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid, for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. Lighthouses mar ...

is still in use, although it is unmanned and solar powered. The island is presently in the custody of the Keweenaw Land Trust, which acquired the Light Station and surrounding land in 2004. The new owners have announced plans to encourage public use of Manitou through camping,

rock collecting Amateur geology or rock collecting (also referred to as rockhounding in the United States and Canada) is the non-professional study and hobby of collecting rocks and minerals or fossil specimens from the natural environment.Sinkankas, John. Minera ...

, hiking,

boating Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether Motorboat, powerboats, Sailing, sailboats, or man-powered vessels (such as rowing and paddle boats), focused on the travel itself, as well as sp ...

kayaking Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving over water. It is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle. A kayak is a low-to-the-water, canoe-like boat in which the paddler sits fac ...

, fishing, and

sightseeing Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism mor ...

at the old light station, while preserving the island's unspoiled scenery and natural habitats.

Gull Rock

Gull Rock, a tiny islet about one-half mile off Manitou's western tip, contains a historic

built in 1867 which still functions (like the Manitou light) as an unattended navigational aid. Recently a local preservation society acquired the islet and its dilapidated light station, with a view to its ultimate restoration.Gull rock Lightkeepers organization
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References

External links

Manitou Island Light Station Preserve
- Keweenaw Land Trust
Bird Survey of Manitou Island
includes several photos of the island.
Interactive map on Michigan lighthouses
Detroit News.
Interactive map of lighthouses in eastern Lake Superior.

Lighthouse Central, Manitou Island Lighthouse ''The Ultimate Guide to Upper Michigan Lighthouses'' by Jerry Roach. (Publisher: Bugs Publishing LLC - 2007)
. *

at Terry Pepper, Seeing The Light. * National Park Servicebr>Marine Heritage Project, Inventory of Historic Light Stations, Manitou Island Light.
* Manitou Island Light. *

* * ttp://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=sbc-web&va=manitou+island+lake+superior&sz=all Yahoo Images: Manitou IslandMore photos of Manitou Island, including the lighthouse (be sure not to confuse images of "Manitou Island" with those from " North Manitou Island" or " South Manitou Island," which are both in

Lake Michigan Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume () and the third-largest by surface area (), after Lake Superior and Lake Huron. To the east, its basin is conjoined with that o ...