Les Cheneaux Islands facts for kids
Sunset from Marquette Island, May 2016
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 Les Cheneaux Islands
Location in Michigan
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Lake Huron |
| Coordinates | 45°57′34″N 84°19′29″W / 45.95944°N 84.32472°W |
| Total islands | 37 |
| Administration | |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Mackinac County |
| Township | Clark Township |
Les Cheneaux Islands (French: "The Channels") are a group of 36 small islands, some inhabited, along 12 miles of Lake Huron shoreline on the southeastern tip of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the United States. The name is French for "the Channels", noting the many channels between the islands in the group. They are about 30 miles northeast of Mackinac Island and about 35 miles south of Sault Ste. Marie. The islands are a popular resort and boating and kayaking area. The nearby communities of Hessel and Cedarville on the mainland offer marinas, camping, lodging, restaurants, and shopping. The Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Boat Show & Festival of the Arts has been held on the second Saturday of each August since 1976 in Hessel. It is the world's largest antique wooden boat show.
Overview of Area
The named islands include:
- Alligator Island
- Bear Island
- Birch Island
- Boot Island
- Burnham Island
- Coryell Island
- Cove Island
- Crow Island
- Dollar Island
- Echo Island
- Eagle Island
- Goat Island
- Goose Island
- Government Island, federally owned, administered through Hiawatha National Forest, primitive campground
- Gravelly Island
- Haven Island
- Hill Island, connected by causeway and bridge with the mainland
- Holsinger Island
- Island No. 8, connected by bridge with the mainland via Hill Island
- La Salle Island
- Little Island (Also known as "Skunk Island" to locals)
- Little Joe's Island (Also known as White Loon Island)
- Little La Salle Island
- Lone Susan Island
- Long Island
- Marquette Island, the largest of all 36 islands
- Penny Island
- Rodger Island
- Rover Island
- St. Ledger Island
- Strongs Island
- Winona Island
The island chain forms many bays, harbors, and inland lakes, including:
- Bass Cove Lake
- Bush Bay
- Cedarville Bay
- Duck Bay
- Flower Bay
- Government Bay
- Mackinac Bay
- Marquette Bay
- McKay Bay
- Melchers Bay
- Mismer Bay
- Muscallonge Bay
- Peck Bay
- Prentiss Bay
- Sand Bay
- Scammons Harbor
- Sheppard Bay
- Urie Bay
- Voight Bay
- Wilderness Bay
From Lake Huron, there are four major entrances to access the islands:
- East Entrance (Between Boot Island and Strongs Island)
- Middle Entrance (Between Marquette Island and Little La Salle Island)
- West Entrance (between Point Brulee and Marquette Island, main entrance to Hessel)
- The fourth entrance, though unnamed on official charts, is often known as "Yacht Entrance," named for the many yachts that access Government Bay for overnight anchorage.
Les Cheneaux Ensign Class: Fleet 31
The Les Cheneaux Islands are home to Fleet 31 of the Ensign Class. The fleet sails out of the Les Cheneaux Yacht Club [1] located on Marquette Island. It is the largest fleet of ensigns worldwide, featuring 64 boats sailing as of summer 2008. Fleet 31 [2] hosted the 2008 Ensign Class Region V Championships on July 10–12, 2008. Fleet 31 was selected by the Ensign Class Association to host the National Ensign Regatta in 2010.
