The cruises around the 21 islands that make up the Apostle Islands National Seashore depart daily, several times a day and into the evenings from a pier in Bayfield. But there are actually 22 islands. Madeline Island is not part of the National Seashore since it was already inhabited when the National Park was created. It was easier to leave it separate than to either move the inhabitants or buy them out. In fact, some of the other islands had folks living on them so the park service bought those places and leased them back to the people. When their lease expires the park will take over the properties.
Although the cruise supposedly passed near all 21 islands, we did not get close enough to most of them to distinguish one from another. Brownstone rock was harvested from several islands and used on the mainland to build sturdy structures such as the Bayfield County Courthouse.
As we passed Hermit Island the captain pointed out a sea stack on the north end called Lookout Point. Stockton Island is the largest in the National Park but Madeline Island is the largest of the 22 Apostles. Eagle Island is the smallest.
The parks department refurbished an old fish camp located on Manitou Island. No one lives there but park rangers will stay on the island to maintain it and wave at the boats that pass.
We saw 3 of the 9 lighthouses located on the islands - Devils Island, Raspberry Island, and Michigan Island.
The most popular Island is Devil’s Island with its Ice Caves. These indentations, arches, pillars and windows were created by wave action, wind and wintry ice eroding the soft sandstone. The best ones are on Devil’s Island but some really good ones can be found on the mainland and on Sand Island.
No comments:
Post a Comment