St. Helena Island (Michigan) facts for kids
St. Helena Island stands out from an icy background in the northwest quadrant of this wintertime aerial photograph.
|
|
 St. Helena Island
Location in Michigan
St. Helena Island
Location in the United States
|
|
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Moran Township, Mackinac County, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 45°51′36″N 84°52′19″W / 45.860°N 84.872°W |
| Adjacent bodies of water | Lake Michigan |
| Area | 240 acres (97 ha) |
| Highest elevation | 600 ft (180 m) |
| Administration | |
St. Helena Island is a small, empty island in Lake Michigan. It covers about 240 acres (which is like 180 football fields!). This island is found near the Straits of Mackinac, which is a narrow waterway connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. St. Helena Island is about 10 miles west of Mackinac Island in Michigan, USA.
Island History and Features
One of the most important things about St. Helena Island is the shallow water around its southeast side. This shallow area, called a shoal, was dangerous for boats. To help ships, a 63-foot lighthouse was built in 1873. This lighthouse, called the St. Helena Island Light, warned boats about the shoal. It also helped guide ships heading east toward the narrow Straits of Mackinac. Today, the lighthouse is the only building left on the island. It still works as a light to help boats navigate.
The north side of the island has a natural harbor. This harbor is shallow but offered a safe place for early travelers. Both Native Americans and French fur traders, called voyageurs, used this spot. They would stop here to hide from strong storms that often blew across Lake Michigan.
Fishing on St. Helena Island
The cold, shallow waters around St. Helena Island are perfect for fish. Many lake trout and whitefish live here. In the 1800s, a fishing station was set up next to the island's harbor. A fishing station was like a small community for professional fishermen. It was a place where they could process and store their catch.
Before motorboats and refrigerators, fishermen had to preserve their fish quickly. Fish caught near St. Helena Island were brought back to the station. There, they were preserved with salt. This "salt fish" could be stored in barrels and sent to other places to be sold.
Over time, new inventions changed fishing. Electric refrigerators and powerful fishing boats made these small stations unnecessary. Fishermen could now take their fresh fish to bigger towns nearby. Places like Mackinaw City, Michigan or St. Ignace, Michigan became the main fish markets. The St. Helena Island fishing station eventually became a ghost town. The old lighthouse was also damaged by vandals.
St. Helena Island as a Natural Area
Today, St. Helena Island is a safe place for birds that eat fish. It is a breeding ground for birds like the osprey and the great blue heron. These birds find plenty of food and a quiet place to raise their young on the island.
