Caribou Island (Thunder Bay) facts for kids
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lake Superior |
| Coordinates | 48°31′34″N 88°50′58″W / 48.52611°N 88.84944°W |
| Administration | |
| Territory | Ontario |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Caribou Island is a small island in Lake Superior, Canada. It's a quiet place where no one lives. The island is about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) south of Shuniah, Ontario. It is also about 32 kilometers (20 miles) east of the city of Thunder Bay.
The island is about 3.3 kilometers (2 miles) long. It is also about 0.7 kilometers (0.4 miles) wide. This makes its total area around 371 acres. The northern part of the island has tall cliffs. These cliffs lead up to a flat, high area. On top of this high area, you can find a small lake. This type of lake is called a kettle lake.
You can easily see Caribou Island from many spots around Thunder Bay. One great place to see it is from the Caribou Island lookout in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. The island and its cliffs were even shown in a movie! It appeared in the 2015 film Sleeping Giant, which was directed by Andrew Cividino.
Protecting Caribou Island's Nature
Caribou Island is very important for nature. It has a healthy, old forest. It is also home to animals that are in danger of disappearing. Even though it's called Caribou Island, you won't find any caribou living there. However, white-tailed deer have been seen on the island.
In 2014, a group called the Nature Conservancy of Canada bought part of the island. They bought about 65 hectares (160 acres) along the southern shore. They did this to help protect the island's special plants and animals. This is called nature conservation.
Caribou Island has some trails for hiking. Like other places owned by the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the island is open for people to visit. It's a great spot to enjoy nature and see the beautiful Lake Superior.
