South Manitou Island

South Manitou Iceland is an island in Lake Michigan, about 26 km west of Leland, Michigan. The island is part of Leelanau County and is part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The uninhabited island has an area of ​​21.44 km ² and can be reached by ferry from Leland from. The larger North Manitou Iceland is located north of the island.

South Manitou Iceland served in the 19th and 20th centuries, many merchant ships as a stop on their route from Chicago to the Straits of Mackinac. The lighthouse South Manitou Light Iceland, which was in operation 1871-1958, marks the best natural harbor on this route. The lighthouse is still in good condition. After restoration of the lighthouse during the summer months is back in service.

The island climate favored the cultivation of rye, beans and peas. Ultimately, the island was but too remote to bring the harvested fruit to the market. South Manitou Iceland is now uninhabited and most residential buildings of that time have expired.

In 1901, the United States Life-Saving Service ( USLSS ) established a station on the island. The USLSS went in 1915 in the United States Coast Guard on. The station now serves as a ranger station and is not publicly available.

The island is less than 5 km to 5 km. On the western shore of the island are the sand dunes on a higher level. Florence Lake is the only lake on the island. There is a network of trails and camping facilities. Guided tours in "open- air vehicles " are possible. Otherwise, the visitors move around the island on foot.

The eastern part of the island is dominated by a large circular bay. This bay is deep until just before the beach. You always offers protection from heavy weather ships and storms. In the southwest of South Manitou Iceland there is a group Thujas, which are among the oldest and largest in the world. The largest has a circumference of 5.5 m and its age is estimated to be over 500 years.

The Manitou Islands are surrounded by over 50 known shipwrecks.