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Manitoulin Island
The Largest Fresh Water Island in the World
Location: Manitoulin Island, Ontario Manitoulin Island is 1068 square miles in area making it the largest fresh water
island in the world. The island separates Lake Huron from the North Channel
and part of Georgian Bay. Manitoulin Island has 108 fresh water lakes within it.
Some of these lakes have their own islands, which in turn have ponds. It happens
that Lake Manitou (40 sq. miles in size) is the largest lake in a fresh water island in
the world. Treasure Island in Lake Mindemoya is the second largest island in a
lake on an island in a lake in the world.
The island is graphically part of Southern Ontario, an eastward extension of the
interior plains, a region that has low relief and sedimentary underock. It is a
continuation of the Bruce Peninsula and Niagara Escarpment, a geological rock
formation running south into Niagara Falls and continuing into New York.
Manitoulin Island has alkaline soil, which discourages the growth of common
northern Ontario flora such as wild blueberries, but allows for the island's
trademark, hawberries. These berries are so distinctive that people born on the
island are referred to as Haweaters. The island hosts the annual August long
weekend Haweater Festival. This event is a large tourist draw and includes
parades, fireworks, shows, dancing, crafts and rural competitions such as
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Manitoulin Island
The Freshwater Capital of the World
Location: Manitoulin Island, Ontario In the world we live in today can Manitoulin Island claim the above title?
That is an interesting question. The island has freshwater around it, above it ,
below it and on it. To help you make some sense of this, please visit the following
website Manitoulin Streams Rehabilitation. It's a very interesting website and to
check out the freshwater question, click on the article, The case for freshwater
capital of the world, located on the homepage.
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Sand Dunes at Providence Bay
Location: Manitoulin Island, Ontario
The sand dunes at Providence Bay formed over the last 3,000 to 4,000
years, since the last ice age receded. These dunes are formed from post
glacial lake deposits, which preceded the present Lake Huron shoreline.
The dunes are considered a closed system, which means shore currents do
not bring sand in from other parts of the coastline.
The dunes at Providence Bay are comprised of fine sands and as a result,
they are particularly vulnerable to erosion from stormwaves and from the
wind. People's indiscriminate use of the dunes can damage or destroy
thousands of years of geologic processesin one instant.
The dunes are native to Providence Bay and can not be found anywhere
else on the island. If you visit the area enjoy them, please read and follow
the instructions on posted signs.
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Rainbow Highway (Ontario Hwy 6 - formally Hwy 68)
Location: Hwy 17 at McKerrow to South Baymouth, Manitoulin Isl.
Ontario Hwy 6 between Hwy 17 and the North Channel Swing Bridge
was built in 1920. It was known as a trunk road and was unpaved and
very rough in many places. In 1937, this section of road was merged
into the Ontario Provincial highway system as Hwy 68. In 1973 the
highway was finally paved. In 1980, the designation 68 was changed
to provincial Hwy 6. The highway picked up its nickname, "The
Rainbow Hwy" in 1969, when the TV show Adventures in Rainbow
Country was being filmed in the area.
For treasure hunters, here is a interesting piece of information. An
American, who was on the gang that was constructing highway 6 from
highway 17 to Little Current stated, one of his fellow workers
uncovered a glass jar containing about $800 in gold coins, near present
day Willisville. Who's money it was and how it got there is unknown.
However, he did state an old homestead in ruins was close to where
the road was being built.
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TV Series "Adventures in Rainbow Country"
Location: Filmed on location at Whitefish Fall, Birch Island, Hwy 68,
North Channel and Manitoulin Island.
Adventures in Rainbow Country was a Canadian television series,
which aired on the CBC Television network in 1970-71. The 26
episodes in the series were filmed in 1969.
The show was a half hour family adventure drama. Nancy Williams
(Lois Maxwell) starred as a widow raising her two children Billy
(Stephen Cottier) and Hannah (Susan Conway) in rural Northern
Ontario. Pete Gawa (Buckley Petawabano) played Bill's friend and
Dennis McGubgub (Wally Koster) played the bush pilot.
The show continues to run in Canada (Deja View) and
internationally. It was a very popular show and technically never
cancelled.
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Manitoulin Lodges, Resorts & Accommodations
Location: Manitoulin Island, Ontario
To many regular Manitoulin Island visitors, Manitoulin is known
as the Island of Enchantment. If you decide to go there for a
vacation, you will soon understand why. The island has an flavor
and atmosphere that is so unique, one can easily fall in love
with the place. The following is a list of over seventy places you
can contact for your next vacation there. Another good website
to visit for information is Rainbow Country.
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Manitoulin, Island of Mystery, Legends & Spirits
Location: Manitoulin Island, Ontario
Dreamer's Rock is located on the Birch Island Indian Reserve.
The area seems to have some spiritual significance as young
natives went there to fast and pray for a vision and direction of
adult life. The ceremony is called a Vision Quest and it has been
recorded since white man first journeyed to the area. However,
some feel the actual vision was a doorway into another world.
The Great Bell Rock, which was suppose to be located on
Great Cloche Island is another island mystery. Legend says
when the rock was struck it sounded like a bell. The rock
was recorded in the journals of early voyageurs. To the natives
the rock was a physical connection to the island Gods. During
times of war it was a warning bell.
The Manitoulin Triangle is another legend, which has
swallowed up some 500 ships and 30 planes. The first ship
that became its victim was the famed Griffon, which was built by
the French explorer La Salle.
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Steep cliffs located on Manitoulin Island
are part of the Niagara Escarpment.
The view is awesome from the top
of these cliffs.
The community of Providence Bay
Hwy 6 at the Willisville Pass
Billy Williams and Pete Gawa on location.
Adventures in Rainbow Country
Dreamer's Rock
The top of Dreamer's Rock is 800 feet
above sea level and 210 feet above the lake.
This eerie image is said to be
the ghost of the Bell Rock.
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