Bass Islands

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Map of the Bass Islands. Bass Islands map.png
Map of the Bass Islands.
South Bass Island from the air, looking west, over Put-in-Bay. Lake-erie-south-bass-island.jpg
South Bass Island from the air, looking west, over Put-in-Bay.

The Bass Islands are three American islands in the western half of Lake Erie. They are north of Sandusky, Ohio, and south of Pelee Island, Ontario. South Bass Island ( 41°38′59″N82°49′08″W / 41.6497°N 82.8189°W / 41.6497; -82.8189 (South Bass Island) ) is the largest of the islands, followed closely by North Bass Island ( 41°42′58″N82°49′11″W / 41.7160°N 82.8196°W / 41.7160; -82.8196 (North Bass Island) ) and Middle Bass Island ( 41°40′56″N82°48′39″W / 41.6821°N 82.8107°W / 41.6821; -82.8107 (Middle Bass Island) ). They are located in Put-in-Bay Township, Ottawa County in the state of Ohio. Historically Middle Bass has also been called Ile de Fleurs and North Bass was known as Isle St. George.

The Bass Island Archipelago includes the three Bass Islands, plus the Ohio islands of Ballast, Buckeye, Catawba, Gibraltar, Green, Kelleys, Lost Ballast, Mouse, Rattlesnake, Starve, and Sugar, and the Ontario islands of East Sister, Hen (including her three "chickens": Big Chicken, Chick, and Little Chicken), Middle, Middle Sister, North Harbour, and Pelee. [1]

At their closest points, Middle Bass Island is approximately 0.5 mi (0.8 km) north of South Bass Island and North Bass Island is approximately 1.0 mi (1.6 km) north of Middle Bass Island. The border between Ohio and Ontario is approximately 1.0 mi (1.6 km) north of North Bass Island.

The village of Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island is a popular tourist stop during the summer. Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial, commemorating the Battle of Lake Erie, is located on South Bass Island, near Put-In-Bay. The island is also the annual host of the Inter-Lake Yachting Association regatta, known as Bay Week.

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Point Pelee National Park National park of Canada in Ontario

Point Pelee National Park is a national park in Essex County in southwestern Ontario, Canada where it extends into Lake Erie. The word pelée is French for 'bald'. Point Pelee consists of a peninsula of land, mainly of marsh and woodland habitats, that tapers to a sharp point as it extends into Lake Erie. Middle Island, also part of Point Pelee National Park, was acquired in 2000 and is just north of the Canada–United States border in Lake Erie. Point Pelee is the southernmost point of mainland Canada, and is located on a foundation of glacial sand, silt and gravel that bites into Lake Erie. This spit of land is slightly more than seven kilometres long by 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) wide at its northern base. Established in 1918, Point Pelee was the first national park in Canada to be established for conservation. It was designated as a Ramsar site on 27 May 1987.

Put-in-Bay, Ohio Village in Ohio, United States

Put-in-Bay is a village located on South Bass Island in Put-in-Bay Township, Ottawa County, Ohio, United States 35 miles (56 km) east of Toledo. The population was 138 at the 2010 census.

Pelee, Ontario Township in Ontario, Canada

Pelee Island, Ontario, Canada, is an island in the western half of Lake Erie. Pelee Island is connected to the Canadian and United States mainland by ferry service. At 42 km2 (16 sq mi), Pelee Island is the largest island in Lake Erie and the southernmost populated point in Canada. An Ontario Historical Plaque was erected by the province to commemorate the development of Pelee Island's role in Ontario's heritage. Nearby Middle Island is the southernmost point of land in Canada.

Ballast Island Private island located in Lake Erie

Ballast Island is a small, 4.89 km² private island in Lake Erie, about one-quarter mile (0.4 km) northeast of the northeast tip of South Bass Island. It is known primarily as a navigation point for boats going to or from Put-in-Bay from the east. There are shoals between Ballast and South Bass, but there is a passage between known locally as "the wagon tracks".

Rattlesnake Island (Lake Erie)

Rattlesnake Island is an 85-acre (34 ha) island located on Lake Erie near Put-In-Bay, 11 miles (18 km) northeast of Port Clinton, Ohio. It is part of Put-in-Bay Township, in Ottawa County. It is one of several islands known as the Lake Erie Islands. The name Rattlesnake comes from the actual rattlesnakes that formerly inhabited the island,.

Middle Island (Lake Erie)

Middle Island is a small island, just 18.5 hectares in area. It is the southernmost point of land in Canada, located at 41°41'N, 82°41"W (41.685,-82.684), or about 41.7 degrees north latitude. It lies in Lake Erie, just south of Pelee Island, and is part of Point Pelee National Park. It forms part of the province of Ontario. The southernmost part of the island lies some 150 metres from the U.S. maritime boundary. The distance to the northernmost point of land in Canada—Cape Columbia, Ellesmere Island—is 4,640 kilometres.

Gibraltar Island Island in the United States of America

Gibraltar Island is an island in Ohio, located within Lake Erie. This small 6.55-acre (0.026 km²) island is just offshore of South Bass Island. It is part of Put-in-Bay Township, Ottawa County, Ohio.

Gull Island Shoal (Lake Erie)

Gull Island Shoal is a former island of the U.S. state of Ohio, located in Lake Erie. Although it still appears on some old maps of Lake Erie as "Gull Island", it is no longer an island, but rather is now just a shoal south of Middle Island. The island was last seen above water 120 years ago.

North Bass Island Island located in Lake Erie, Ohio

North Bass Island is an island of the U.S. state of Ohio located in Lake Erie. A small unincorporated community, Isle Saint George, is on the island. The North Bass Island Post Office was established on May 25, 1864, and the name changed to Isle Saint George Post Office on March 2, 1874. The Isle Saint George ZIP code 43436 provides PO Box service. The island is equidistant to Port Clinton, OH and Kingsport, Ontario, Canada

South Bass Island Island in the United States of America

South Bass Island is a small island in western Lake Erie, and a part of Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. It is the southernmost of the three Bass Islands and located 3 miles (4.6 km) from the south shore of Lake Erie. It is the third largest island in the Lake Erie Islands, and is part of Put-in-Bay Township. In the bay of South Bass is Gibraltar Island, home to the Ohio State University's Stone Laboratory.

Starve Island

Starve Island is an island of the U.S. state of Ohio located in Lake Erie. The 2-acre (0.81 ha) island is about a mile (1.6 km) south of South Bass Island. In normal weather conditions it is visible for only a mile or two, as some rocks and a few shrubs poking up from the lake, and is the second smallest of the Lake Erie Islands. The island can be seen from the top of Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial in Put-in-Bay.

Lost Ballast Island

Lost Ballast Island is an island in the U.S. state of Ohio, located in Lake Erie. The island was once a part of Ballast Island, but has since sunk into Lake Erie to become a reef. During periods of low water the island reappears. It is located in Put-in-Bay Township, Ottawa County, Ohio.

Put-in-Bay Township, Ottawa County, Ohio Township in Ohio, United States

Put-in-Bay Township is one of the twelve townships of Ottawa County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 763 people in the township, 635 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.

Sandusky Bay

Sandusky Bay is a bay on Lake Erie in northern Ohio, formed at the mouth of the Sandusky River. It was identified as Lac Sandouské on a 1718 French map, with early variations recorded that suggest the name was derived from Native American languages. The Thomas A. Edison Memorial Bridge was constructed across it in the 20th century to connect highways in Erie and Ottawa counties.

Sugar Island (Ohio) Private island located in Lake Erie, Ottawa County, Ohio

Sugar Island of Ottawa County, Ohio, United States in southwestern Lake Erie. It is a private island and one of the smaller of the island group at 0.123 km². It lies just off the northwest shore of Middle Bass Island. It is located in Put-in-Bay Township, Ottawa County, Ohio.

Pelee Island Winery is a winery in Kingsville, Ontario, Canada. They have over 700-acre (2.8 km2) of vineyards on Pelee Island, which is in the South Islands Sub-Appellation of the Lake Erie North Shore Appellation of Ontario along the shores of Lake Erie. https://www.vqaontario.ca/Appellations/LakeErieNorthShore

References

  1. Archived 2019-06-19 at the Wayback Machine How Many Islands Are There in Lake Erie? Retrieved March 6, 2014.