Manitoulin

island, Canada

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June 30, 2026

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Manitoulin Island is the largest freshwater island globally, located in northern Lake Huron, Canada. It is part of an archipelago characterized by limestone bedrock, a feature of the Niagara Escarpment. The island spans 100 miles (160 km) and covers 1,068 square miles (2,766 square km).12

The name "Manitoulin" originates from an Algonquian word meaning "spirit". Historically visited by Jesuit missionaries, the island is now known for fishing, lumbering, and farming, and is a popular destination for tourists and sportsmen. A highway and railway connect the main center, Little Current, to the mainland. In 1990, a significant land-claim settlement occurred between Indigenous groups and the provincial government.1

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Manitoulin Islands
The Ontario island of Manitoulin, the largest freshwater island in the world, has a length of 100 miles (160 km) and an area of 1,068 square miles (2,766 square km). Of the many other islands in the group, the Michigan island of Drummond and the Ontario islands of St.…
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The Ontario island of Manitoulin, the largest freshwater island in the world, has a length of 100 miles (160 km) and an area of 1,068 square miles (2,766 square km). Of the many other islands in the group, the Michigan island of Drummond and the Ontario islands of St.…
Read More