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The 'Thousand Islands' are a chain of islands that straddle the U.S.-Canada border in the Saint Lawrence River as it emerges from the northeast corner of Lake Ontario. The islands stretch for about 50 mi (80 km) downstream from Kingston, Ontario. The Canadian islands are in the province of Ontario. The U.S. islands are in the state of New York. The islands, which number 1,865 in all, range in size from over 100 km² to smaller islands occupied by a single residence, to even smaller uninhabited outcroppings of rocks that are home to migratory waterfowl. The number of islands was determined using the criteria that any island must be above water level for 365 days per year, bigger than one square foot (roughly 900 cm²), and support at least one tree or shrub. The area is very popular among vacationers, campers, and boaters, and is often referred to as the 'fresh water boating capital of the world.'
The area is frequently traveled by large freighters on their way into and out of the Great Lakes shipping lanes, but is so riddled with shoals and rocks that local navigators are hired to help the vessels travel through the hazardous waterway. Under the Canadian span, a vessel just less than 25 feet (7.6 m) offshore can find itself in over 200 feet (61 m) of water. Similarly, rocks and shoals less than two feet (61 cm) underwater can be found in the center of channels 90 feet (27 m) deep. Because of the great deal of rocks and shoals just above or below the water's surface, it is unwise to travel the waters at night unless one stays in the main channels and has charts, a chart plotter, or knows the area well. The water is so clear in some areas, that a rocky bottom can be observed in 80 feet (24 m) of water. The area features several shipwrecks and is a great place for diving. However, all of the wrecks are over 100 feet (30 m) underwater, so only more experienced divers dare to dive on them.
Geologically, the islands are located where a branch of the Canadian Shield runs south across the river to join with the Adirondacks. The islands have long been popular with boaters.

Around twenty of these islands form the St. Lawrence Islands National Park, the smallest of Canada's national parks. The Thousand Islands-Frontenac Arch region was designated a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2002. The U.S. islands include numerous New York state parks, including Robert Moses State Park - Thousand Islands, located on an island in the St. Lawrence.
In the late 19th century and early 20th century many distinguished visitors made the region widely known as a summer resort. Several grand hotels provided luxurious accommodations while steamboats offered extensive tours among the islands. Wealthy and middle-class summer residents built summer homes. Some masonry "castles" remain as international landmarks. The most famous extant examples are "The Towers" on Dark Island, now called Singer Castle, and the long-neglected Boldt Castle on Heart Island which is slowly being restored.

During the half century (1874-1912) of the resort's greatest prominence, most wealthy vacationers came from New York City, joined by prominent families from Chicago, Pittsburgh and other cities of the United States and Canada. The region retains a historically important collection of vacation homes from this time. The Thousand Islands have long been a center for recreational boating. Large steam yachts, many designed by Nathanael Herreshoff required distinctive yacht houses. The region was known also for innovative power boating during this period. Three local yacht clubs hosted the Gold Cup Races of the American Power Boat Association for nine consecutive years. The Antique Boat Museum of Clayton, New York retains one of the world's major collections of recreational freshwater boats....
The Thousand Islands Bridge connects New York State and Ontario by traversing Wellesley Island at the northernmost point of U.S. Interstate 81 in Jefferson County and meets Highway 137, which leads to Highway 401. The Thousand Islands Parkway provides a scenic view of many of the islands.
The largest island in the group, Wolfe Island, is located entirely in Ontario.
The Thousand Islands gave their name to the popular Thousand Island Dressing around the turn of the 20th century when Sophie LaLonde, of Clayton, New York who served the dressing at dinner for guests of her husband, a popular fishing guide, gave the recipe to Clayton hotel owner Ella Bertrand and New York City stage actress May Irwin (who shared it with hotel magnate George C. Boldt).
The town most associated with the Thousand Islands on the American side is Alexandria Bay, New York. Here, free dock space is available to all boaters who wish to come ashore and walk through the village, which is located right alongside the docks. Souvenir shops, clubs, restaurants, ice cream parlors, pizza shops and arcades run the length of James St., the street directly adjacent to the docks. The thousand islands are known throughout the northeast boating community for being extremely boater-friendly.
Another popular American vacation spot is the Wellesley Island State Park on Wellesley Island, which sports hundreds of camping sites, both powered and non, and several boat ramps and docking facilities for a boater-friendly park.

Contents

Popular boating, fishing and vacationing locations

Curiosities

Gallery

References

External links

Popular boating, fishing and vacationing locations

★ One of the only beaches in the Thousand Islands, Potter's Beach on the American Grindstone Island has a fine, shallow sandy bottom with a very gradual slope, perfect for boaters that want to stretch their legs or socialize. The number of boats in the little bay can number well over 150. The shallows do harbor a few rocks, so a chart could be useful.

★ A popular location for swimming or anchoring out of the wind, the Lake of the Isles is a secluded area cut off from the rest of the St. Lowrance River by Wellesley Island and neighboring Canadian Hill Island. The only way in or out is through one of two narrow passages.

★ Known for its fishing, Eel Bay is a shallow bay just Southwest of Wellesley Island. From the air, the bay can resemble the Caribbean with a turquoise tinted crystal clear water and sandy bottoms.

★ Boldt's Castle, once a testament of one man's love of his wife, is now slowly being restored and can be visited by boat or tour cruise. This 120 room Castle and surrounding grounds are available for touring at about $5.75 per person, and is also available for wedding ceremonies.

★ The Clayton Boat Museum houses hundreds of antique wooden boats, including many of those salvaged from the Boldt Boathouse. Several boats can be rented out.

★ Though not as famous as George Boldt's Castle, Singer Castle on Dark Island has been privately renovated and is open to tourists for $20 each. Frederick Bourne had his castle constructed with secret passageways so that he could spy on his guests.

Curiosities

★ In the Saint Lawrence River, about two miles (3.21;km) north of Alexandria Bay, there is an island called ''Deer Island'' which is owned by the secret society of Skull and Bones.

★ There is a pair of islands near Rockport called Zavikon. A popular tale among local guides is that the bigger part of Zavikon is in Canada, while the smaller part is in the USA, and the foot bridge between them is the "shortest international bridge in the world".^[1][2] In fact, Zavikon is in Canada.^[3]

★ There is only one artificial island in the entire region, Longue Vue Island.

★ Thousand Island dressing was named for the chain of islands by the actress who popularised the dressing, May Irwin.

Gallery

References

1. Jefferson County, , Elise D., Chan, Arcadia Publishing, 2004,
2. The Venice of America
3. Geographical Name Search Service Also see GeoNames.org and Google Maps

External links

★ 1000 Islands Gananoque Chamber of Commerce and tourism information

★ Interactive satellite view of the Thousand Islands

★ St. Lawrence Parks Commission (Ontario)

★ Map of Thousand Islands area

★ Page about Wolfe Island

★ Thousand Islands Life

★ The Antique Boat Museum, Clayton, NY

★ Boating the 1000 Islands

★ Welcome to The Thousand Islands

★ "Discovering the Thousand Islands" by Don Ross

★ A gallery of Thousand Islands images by Chris Murray

★ Thousand Islands Neighbourhood Galleries + Aerial Photography by Ian Coristine

★ A comprehensive gallery of Thousand Islands images sorted by Theme and Neighborhood

★ website of the 1000 Islands International Tourism Council