Geography | |
---|---|
Location | Cataraqui River, Kingston, Ontario |
Coordinates | 44°14.9′N76°28.2′W / 44.2483°N 76.4700°W |
Area | 0.44 km2 (0.17 sq mi) |
Administration | |
Canada | |
Province | Ontario |
City | Kingston, Ontario |
Belle Island is a forested island located in the Cataraqui River, north of downtown Kingston, Ontario. The island is noted for evidence of prehistoric Native use such as hunting and fishing, and for the existence of a burial ground. The island is about 44 hectares in size. [1]
The island was named Isle aux Recolets during the years of occupation by the French, and Isle au Père after the British occupied the area. The current name, Belle Island, appears after 1828. [1]
Evidence of use by Native groups for hunting and fishing in the Middle Woodland Period have been discovered on the island. A burial ground was uncovered by accident in 1988 when the City was constructing a beach. The remains of three males, one female, and three children were uncovered by archaeological work in 1990 and reburied in a nearby location in 2000. One of the males was determined to have died because of a bone projectile point which had entered the chest area. Fragments of early tools, pottery and other items were also found. These remains and the found artifacts date from about 1100 years ago. [2] [3]
Belle Island was acquired by the City of Kingston in 1956. Although there has never been any development on the island, the area between the island and the west shore of the Cataraqui River, known as Belle Park or Cataraqui Park, was once an extensive marsh that was gradually filled in. A landfill occupied this area from 1952 to 1974, and from 1978 to 2017 the landfill was covered and used for a golf course. [4] [5]
The City of Kingston and the Mohawk Council of Canada have agreed to collaborate to manage the island. A local group known as the Belle Island Caretakers Circle undertakes annual clean-up events and have plans to protect the island. [6]
The island is located in the Mixedwood Plains Ecozone. Within the island's boundaries, many species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, plants, and fungi are known to live. A few of the many species that are found here or have been seen here include: American bullfrog, American toad, common watersnake, common snapping turtle, pileated woodpecker, eastern screech-owl, great horned owl, wild turkey, great egret, great blue heron, tundra swan, Canada goose, osprey, bald eagle, American beaver, muskrat, common raccoon, North American river otter, coyote, northern pike, yellow perch, monarch butterfly, eastern red cedar, common juniper, eastern white pine, white spruce, red maple, sugar maple, white oak, and basswood. [7]
Hiking, bird watching, picnicking, mountain biking, and cross country skiing are popular activities. A 4.3 km (2.7 mi) km trail traverses the island. [8]
Isle Royale National Park is an American national park consisting of Isle Royale, along with more than 400 small adjacent islands and the surrounding waters of Lake Superior, in the state of Michigan.
Kingston is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the northeastern end of Lake Ontario. It is at the beginning of the St. Lawrence River and at the mouth of the Cataraqui River, the south end of the Rideau Canal. Kingston is midway between Toronto, Ontario, and Montreal, Quebec, and is also near the Thousand Islands, a tourist region to the east, and the Prince Edward County tourist region to the west. Kingston is nicknamed the "Limestone City" because it has many heritage buildings constructed using local limestone.
The Cataraqui River forms the lower portion of the Rideau Canal and drains into Lake Ontario at Kingston, Ontario. The name is taken from the original name for Kingston, Ontario; its exact meaning, however, is undetermined. Early maps showed several name variations including the Great Cataraqui River and Grand River Cataraquay. The river was once called Riviere de Frontenac, or Frontenac River. The alternate spelling "Cadaraqui" also appears in some historic texts.
Fundy National Park is a national park of Canada located on the Bay of Fundy, near the village of Alma, New Brunswick. It was officially opened on 29 July 1950. The park showcases a rugged coastline which rises up to the Canadian Highlands, the highest tides in the world and more than 25 waterfalls. The park covers an area of 207 km2 (80 sq mi) along Goose Bay, the northwestern branch of the Bay of Fundy. When one looks across the Bay, one can see the northern Nova Scotia coast.
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Pettigrew State Park is a North Carolina State Park in Tyrrell and Washington Counties, North Carolina in the United States. It covers 5,951 acres (24.08 km2) around the shore lines of Lake Phelps and the Scuppernong River. The park's developed facilities are south of U.S. Route 64 near Roper and Creswell, North Carolina. Pettigrew State Park is open for year-round recreation, including hiking, camping, fishing, boating and picnicking.
The Stein Valley Nlaka’pamux Heritage Park is located near Lytton, BC northeast of Vancouver. The park was established in 1995. Currently, the park is being co-managed, operated and planned through partnership between the Lytton First Nations and the BC Government. The park provides recreational opportunities and cultural heritage activities.
The Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States system of national wildlife refuges. It is located in Alfalfa County in northern Oklahoma, north of Jet, along Great Salt Plains Lake, which is formed by a dam on the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River.
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Marine Park is a public park located in the neighborhood of Marine Park in Brooklyn, New York. Its 798 acres (3.2 km2) surround the westernmost inlet of Jamaica Bay. Most of the land for Marine Park was donated to New York City to be turned into public park land by the Whitney family in 1920 and by Frederic B. Pratt and Alfred Tredway White, who jointly donated 150 acres (0.61 km2) in 1917. The land donated consists of the area between the current day Fillmore Avenue and Gerritsen Avenue and East 38th Street. Originally almost 2,000 acres (810 ha), over half of which has been donated to the National Park Service as part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, the park is mainly a fertile salt marsh which is supplied with freshwater from Gerritsen Creek.
Sakatah Lake State Park is an 842-acre (341 ha) state park of Minnesota, USA, on a natural widening of the Cannon River near the town of Waterville. The Dakota native to the area called it "Sakatah" which means "singing hills". To honor this native heritage, some of the trails in the park have been given Dakota names. The Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail, which connects Faribault and Mankato, runs through this park.
Archipelago National Park is a national park in Southwest Finland. It was established in 1983 and includes 500 km2 (190 sq mi) of land area. Most of the land is on islands smaller than 1 km2 (0.39 sq mi). The park encompasses about 2,000 of the 8,400 islets and skerries within the cooperative area. The larger islands are mainly owned by their inhabitants. Archipelago National Park is part of the UNESCO biosphere reserves and received a PAN Parks certificate in 2007.
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