Spieden Island facts for kids
Spieden Island is a private island located in the San Juan Islands in Washington state, USA. It covers about 516 acres (209 hectares). No one lives on the island permanently, but there are some buildings there. The island has been owned by James Jannard, who founded the company Oakley, Inc., since 1997.
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Geography of Spieden Island
Spieden Island is about two miles long and half a mile wide at its widest point. It is less than a mile north of San Juan Island, separated by the Spieden Channel. The highest point on the island is about 374 feet (114 meters) above sea level.
North and South Sides
The north side of the island has many trees and is heavily forested. However, the south side is mostly bare and open. You can find many large rocks on the south side. These rocks are called glacial erratics. They were left behind by glaciers that moved across the land a very long time ago.
History of Spieden Island
Spieden Island was named by Charles Wilkes. He was part of the United States Exploring Expedition from 1838 to 1842. The island was named to honor William Speiden, who was the purser (a person in charge of money and supplies) on the expedition's ship, the Peacock.
Exotic Animals on the Island
In the 1970s and 1980s, Spieden Island was used for a special purpose. Non-native animals were brought to the island. These included Mouflon sheep from Corsica, fallow deer from Europe, and Sika deer from Asia. About 2,000 exotic birds, like African guinea fowl, were also brought there. The idea was to create a place for hunting these animals.
A lodge for hunters, an airstrip, and a small hangar were built on the island for visitors. However, this project did not last long. People had worries about the environment. There was also a risk that stray shots could reach nearby San Juan Island, which has more people living on it. Even though the hunting venture stopped, the imported animals continue to live and thrive on Spieden Island today.
Educational Camp
At one time, an environmental education camp called The Island Institute was located on Spieden Island. It was run by Jane Howard. This camp is no longer in operation.
