Turtle Island, Lake island in Jerusalem Township and Erie Township, United States
Turtle Island is a small island located in the western section of Lake Erie, sitting between Jerusalem Township and Erie Township. The island spans about 1.5 acres and holds abandoned buildings along with the remains of a lighthouse structure.
The British built a defensive fort on the island in 1794, which they abandoned after territorial disputes with the United States. The site later served maritime functions throughout the 19th century.
The Miami Native Americans used the island before 1800 as a location for gathering seagull eggs, connecting them to Lake Erie's resources.
The island is privately owned and closed to visitors, making it impossible to land or explore on foot. You can view it from shore or by boat from a distance.
The island's jurisdiction is split between Michigan and Ohio based on a 1973 Supreme Court decision. This boundary arrangement makes it an unusual case of territorial division on the lake.
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