Galop Island facts for kids
 Galop Island
Location in New York
Location of Galop Island in New York State
|
|
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | St. Lawrence River |
| Coordinates | 44°45′55″N 75°24′02″W / 44.7653°N 75.4005°W |
| Area | 675 acres (273 ha) |
| Highest elevation | 289 ft (88.1 m) |
| Administration | |
| State | New York |
| County | St. Lawrence |
| Town | Lisbon |
| Owner | New York Power Authority |
Galop Island is a special island in the Saint Lawrence River in New York State. It is located in St. Lawrence County, near the town of Ogdensburg. This island is not lived on by people.
Galop Island is about 675 acres big, which is like 500 football fields! The New York Power Authority owns the island. It is managed by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation as an undeveloped state park. This means it's a natural area for everyone to enjoy.
Over time, Galop Island has been called many different names. Some of these names include Isle Aux Galloup, Gallou Island, Butternut Island, and Lotus Island. It also used to be known as Round Island and Twin Island.
Wildlife on Galop Island
Galop Island is a mix of different natural areas. You can find thick bushes, open grassy spots, and tall, old forests. This variety of habitats makes it a great home for many animals.
Bald Eagles' Winter Home
Galop Island is a very important place for bald eagles, especially in winter. These majestic birds come here to spend the colder months. They need a place where they can find food easily.
Nearby, a part of the Saint Lawrence River called the Galop Island Pools stays free of ice all winter. This happens because the river currents are very strong and keep the water moving. This open water area is huge, about 1,800 acres!
Eagles and other birds that travel for winter use this open water to find food. In this region, it's rare to find water that doesn't freeze in winter. Only three other spots in the Saint Lawrence River stay ice-free like this.
Fish and Waterfowl Habitat
The shallow bays along the river, just south of Galop Island, are also very important. These bays cover about 1,000 acres. They are a special place where a fish called muskellunge lays its eggs. This makes the area a popular spot for people who love to fish.
These large, protected bays near Galop Island are unique because they have different water speeds. This makes them perfect for many types of fish. Besides muskellunge, you can find lots of brown bullhead, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch here.
The bays also help birds that travel long distances. Many different kinds of waterfowl stop here during their spring and fall journeys. They use the bays to rest and find food.]]]
