Round Island (Michigan) facts for kids
 Round Island
Location in Michigan
Location within the state of Michigan
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lake Huron near the Straits of Mackinac |
| Coordinates | 45°49′47″N 84°36′05″W / 45.82972°N 84.60139°W |
| Area | 1.53 km2 (0.59 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Mackinac County |
| City | Mackinac Island |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Round Island is a small island in Mackinac County, Michigan, USA. No one lives on the island. It is located in the Straits of Mackinac. These straits connect Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Long ago, Native Americans called the island "Nissawinagong."
Discover Round Island
Round Island is not very big. It covers about 378 acres (153 ha) of land. Most of the island is a special protected area. This area is called the Round Island Wilderness Area. It is part of the Hiawatha National Forest. Even though the island is part of the City of Mackinac Island, Michigan, the U.S. Forest Service takes care of it.
Island Location and Neighbors
Round Island is right next to Mackinac Island. It helps protect Mackinac Island's harbor. About 900,000 tourists visit Mackinac Island every year. They travel by ferryboat and pass very close to Round Island. To the southeast of Round Island is Bois Blanc. People live on Bois Blanc Island.
The Round Island Lighthouse
There is only one building on Round Island. This building is the Round Island Light. It is a lighthouse that was built in 1895. Today, it is being fixed up. The water path for ships between Mackinac Island and Round Island is called Round Island Channel. The Round Island Light helps guide ships through this channel.
The lighthouse was shown in the 1980 movie Somewhere in Time. Actors Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour were seen near it. The movie was mostly filmed on Mackinac Island. You cannot go inside the lighthouse if you visit the island.
It is rare for people to visit Round Island. However, there is a small harbor on the north side. People from Mackinac Island sometimes sail to this harbor. They enjoy its sandy beach for a quiet visit. The beaches on Mackinac Island are usually rocky.
