Mohawk Island

Gull Island Lighthouse.
Panorama of Mohawk Island.

Mohawk Island is a small (4 hectares[1]) island in Lake Erie, in the province of Ontario, Canada. It was formerly known as Gull Island. The island contains the ruins of the Gull Island Lighthouse, built in 1848 to guide ships into the Welland Canal. It was automated (no longer requiring a human keeper) in 1933, and decommissioned in 1969.[2] It is located close to the shore of Rock Point Provincial Park.[3]

Currently, no humans live on the island, and it is mostly inhabited by birds. It is an important nesting and loafing area for gulls, terns and cormorants; furthermore, the island provides a stopover site for migratory birds such as Canada geese. In 1977, the Canadian government established the island as Mohawk Island National Wildlife Area to protect nesting birds. Although the surrounding waters are popular for recreational boating, people are generally not allowed to visit Mohawk Island. No visits are permitted during nesting season, which is defined as from April 1 to July 31.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Mohawk Island National Wildlife Area." Environment Canada, 20 August 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  2. ↑ "Mohawk Island Lighthouse." Rudy and Alice's Lighthouse Page. Posted September 2006. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  3. ↑ Penberthy, Bryan. "Mohawk Island Lighthouse." US Lighthouses, 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2012.

Coordinates: 42°50′2″N 79°31′21″W / 42.83389°N 79.52250°W / 42.83389; -79.52250


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