Manitoulin Island

Manitoulin Island is a freshwater island in Lake Huron in Ontario, Canada, measuring around 2,766 square kilometers (about 1,068 square miles). The island holds more than one hundred smaller lakes within its landmass and is edged along the north by limestone cliffs rising above the shoreline.

Archaeological finds on the island show traces of human settlement going back roughly ten thousand years before the common era. European explorers reached the island in the 1600s and brought trade and missionary activity, before the area later became part of Canada.

The Anishinaabe have lived on this land for centuries and call the island Mnidoo Mnis, meaning

Travelers reach the island using the Little Current Swing Bridge, which operates year-round, or by taking the Chi-Cheemaun car ferry from Tobermory between May and October. Roads across the island suit driving, cycling, and walking, though some areas may be harder to access depending on the season.

Nested within the island is Lake Manitou, the largest lake sitting on a freshwater island anywhere in the world. This body of water covers a considerable area and forms a rare geographic feature within the freshwater realm.

Location: Ontario

Elevation above the sea: 352 m

GPS coordinates: 45.76667,-82.20000

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:03