East Sister Island (Ontario) facts for kids
East Sister Island is a small island in Lake Erie, Canada. It covers about 15 hectares, which is roughly the size of 15 football fields! This island is special because no people live there permanently. Instead, it is a protected area known as a Provincial Nature Reserve. This means it is kept safe for nature and wildlife to thrive.
The island is part of a group of islands called the Pelee Archipelago. This group also includes West Sister Island (which is in the USA) and Middle Sister Island.
East Sister Island
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lake Erie |
| Coordinates | 41°48′47″N 82°51′23″W / 41.81306°N 82.85639°W |
| Archipelago | Sister Islands |
| Major islands | East Sister Island and West Sister Island |
| Area | 0.15 km2 (0.058 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 571 ft (174 m) |
| Administration | |
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Canada
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| Province | Ontario |
| County | Essex |
| Township | Pelee |
| Demographics | |
| Population | uninhabited nature reserve |
Wildlife on East Sister Island
East Sister Island is a busy home for many animals and plants. One of the most famous residents is a large group of double-crested cormorants. These birds are great at fishing and have made the island their breeding ground.
However, having so many cormorants has changed the island's forest. Their droppings, also known as guano, are very strong. They can harm the trees. The forest here is a special kind called a relict of Carolinian forest, which is rare in southern Ontario.
The main trees you will find on the island are the common hackberry and the Kentucky coffeetree. You might also spot some unusual plants like the wild hyacinth. Another interesting resident is the Lake Erie water snake, known scientifically as Nerodia sipedon insularum.
