Peche Island, River island in Ontario, Canada
Peche Island is a river island at the point where the Detroit River meets Lake Saint Clair, just across from Windsor, Ontario. The land is largely forested and crossed by unpaved paths that run alongside old waterways and a variety of plant and animal life.
Indigenous peoples used the island for fishing and hunting long before French-Canadian families settled there in the 1700s. In the 1800s, businessman Hiram Walker had several buildings and leisure facilities constructed on the land.
The name comes from the French word for fish, pointing to its past as a fishing spot for local communities. Today, visitors walk through forested paths where wildlife and old trees share the same space.
The island is reachable by shuttle boat from Lakeview Park Marina, generally between June and October. Since the paths are unpaved, sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are a good idea before heading out.
The island's shoreline is slowly shrinking due to waves from cargo ships and shifting water levels. Ongoing restoration work aims to slow this loss and protect what remains of the land.
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