The Road to Manitoulin

Land of Rugged Beauty and Tranquility

Manitoulin Tourism

Manitoulin - Ontario - Weather
 

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The Rainbow Hwy (6), as it winds through the Willisville Pass in the
La Cloche Mts., on its way to Manitoulin Island.
 

Aerial view of the Swing Bridge at
Little Current

       The only highway access to Manitoulin Island is from the north. The Rainbow Hwy (6) starts
   at Hwy 17, about 40 miles west of Sudbury, Ontario. The highway then goes through Espanola
   and continues south on its way to Manitoulin, a distance of approximately 28 miles. The final leg
   of the Rainbow Hwy then crosses the Swing Bridge. Little Current is on the other side.

        The Swing Bridge was built for the Algoma Eastern Railway in 1913, by the Canadian Bridge
   Company of Walkerville, Ontario at a cost of $285,000. The bridge is 571 feet long (swing
   portion is 325 feet long), 22 feet above the water and 14 feet wide.

       The bridge's swing mechanism was originally powered by a gas engine, but changed to an
   electric motor in modern times, which is controlled by a computer. The bridge was built to allow
   railway traffic onto the island. However, highway traffic soon reached the bridge and it was
   upgraded to allow vehicles to cross. The bridge is only wide enough for one lane of vehicle traffic
  so lights were nstalled at each end of the bridge to control the flow of traffic.  In 1983 the bridge
  was listed as an Ontario Heritage Bridge.
 

The North Channel Swing Bridge
at Little Current, Ontario

North Channel Swing Bridge
in the open position

 
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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 horse pulls.

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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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 Michael's Bay History
   Location:   Michaels Bay, Manitoulin Island

     Michael's Bay History Link

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.

   Most Distinguishing Feature:   
         From a time in the distant past, long before the dinosaurs and back before time
    itself, Earth had a visitor. This visitor came from a distant land, looking for a new
    home and a new beginning. Today, over two billion years later, the remnants of her
    encounter with our planet, can still be seen in Sudbury.
         Her encounter with our planet was not by chance. She was sent by a civilization
    that had technology, so far beyond our understanding that even today they remain
    silent. However, their silence is only as we perceive it, for they have been interacting
    with Earth for two billion years. In 1884, a major discovery concealed in the ancient
    rocks of the Sudbury Basin has led to the writing of a book titled, "2 Billion Years
    Ago, A Heavily Armed Warship Went Into Earth Orbit."
         This book is about the historical legacy of the Sudbury Basin. It is an exciting
    and riveting story based on historical events. The book will challenge or complement
    the bible depending on how you view religion. The book's release date has not been
    finalized yet.
    You Tube video ad for this book on page 2
 

On that fateful day over two billion
years ago, a fast closing super class
meteor was seconds away from
sealing our planet's history