St. Joseph Island

About

St. Joseph Island is in the northwestern part of Lake Huron. It is part of the Canadian province of Ontario. At 365 km2 (141 sq mi) in area, it is the sixth largest lake island in the world; the second largest island on Lake Huron, following Manitoulin Island; and the third largest of all the islands on the Great Lakes, trailing Manitoulin and Lake Superior's Isle Royale.

The island lies approximately 45 km (28 mi) south east of the city of Sault Ste. Marie and 225 km (140 mi) south west of Sudbury.

St. Joseph Island has two population centres, Richards Landing with approximately 400 residents and the village of Hilton Beach with approximately 200 people.

The island is the largest centre of maple syrup production in Ontario, with nearly 30 companies producing 18 per cent of the province's maple syrup. Its location on the Great Lakes, ease of reach by road and boat and the availability of local services have made it a destination for tourists and cottagers in northeastern Ontario.

St. Joseph Island played an important role for First Nations and Europeans in the early fur trade and as a staging point for the first victory for British North America in the War of 1812. The island is the subject of one of the Upper Canada Land Surrender treaties conducted by the British government and First Nations in the period between the end of the American Revolution and Confederation.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.