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270:. The area between the two islands is a favorite spot for fishing. On the northeast end of the island, a small bay is lined with limestone bedrock, offering good holding ground as a place to anchor during storms. The harbor of refuge is accessible by small boat, though access is controlled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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The island is largely forested, mainly with mixed hardwoods. The humid ecoclimate is friendly to a diverse herbarium, including some rare plant species. Its isolated beaches and unique hardwood forest provides excellent habitat for a variety of plants and animals. Many rare and protected species of
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real estate broker Robert Wiltse and other investors with plans consisting of 24 large houses. After accepting 15 deposits and constructing a harbor, Wiltse changed his mind about the development. In 1997, he sold more than 80% of the island to the
207:". The islands were not known as the Charity Islands until after 1845. Maps before 1800 show the islands unnamed. According to an 1839 map, Big Charity Island was referred to as Shawangunk, while Little Charity Island was known as Ile de Traverse.
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Tours of the island (and even dinner cruises) are available. They include the privately owned, rebuilt
Charity Island Lightlightkeeper's house and a passing view of Gravelly Shoal Light. They are available from a ferry company in
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The island was named by lake mariners for its location, placed 'through the charity of God' at the entrance to
Saginaw Bay midway between the city of
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266:. Offshore, the gravel reefs to the south creates a shallow-water channel separating Charity Island from its smaller neighbor,
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188:. The island is 222 acres (0.90 km) in area and has about 3 miles (4.8 km) of shoreline. It is part of
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196:. The island also contains an 11-acre (0.04 km) pond, literally a 'lake within a lake', fed by springs.
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The island was offered for sale in 1987 for $ 750,000. In 1993 it was purchased by
351:"Saginaw Bay's Charity Island reverts to nearly wild after brush with development"
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was constructed in 1857. It operated in 1857-1930 and was then replaced by the
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A.W. Sweigert, "Calendar", Inland Seas 43:2 (Summer 1987), page 133.
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255:(which also bought the lighthouse from the government).
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Michigan State
University Map Archive (Michigan, 1839)
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Charity Island
Lighthouse - United States Lighthouses
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258:Geologically, the island contains pockets of
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262:that are believed to have been quarried by
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405:Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge
249:Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge
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425:National Wildlife Refuges in Michigan
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211:plants grow on the Island including
111:0.347 sq mi (0.90 km)
47:Charity Island (Michigan) (Michigan)
251:(MINWR) system, and a few acres to
440:Islands of Arenac County, Michigan
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435:Islands of Lake Huron in Michigan
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245:U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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378:Charity Island ferry service.
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278:on the mainland, south of
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311:"Charity Island Webpage"
400:Charity Island Webpage
383:July 23, 2011, at the
346:The Detroit Free Press
253:The Nature Conservancy
247:as an addition to the
268:Little Charity Island
119:3 mi (5 km)
92:44.03139°N 83.43556°W
233:Gravelly Shoal Light
229:Charity Island Light
97:44.03139; -83.43556
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225:Pink Lady Slippers
221:Jack in the Pulpit
174:Big Charity Island
359:. The Denver Post
276:Au Gres, Michigan
213:Pitcher's thistle
201:Au Gres, Michigan
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313:. Archived from
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264:Native Americans
190:Whitney Township
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394:External links
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349:(2011-07-05).
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361:. Retrieved
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319:. Retrieved
315:the original
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445:Saginaw Bay
363:2 September
215:, acres of
178:Saginaw Bay
95: /
71:Coordinates
65:Saginaw Bay
419:Categories
321:2008-08-01
286:References
186:Lake Huron
184:waters of
83:83°26′08″W
80:44°01′53″N
205:The Thumb
180:, in the
116:Coastline
56:Geography
381:Archived
240:Standish
217:Trillium
182:Michigan
158:Township
142:Michigan
61:Location
223:, and
148:County
280:Tawas
260:chert
203:and "
192:, in
138:State
365:2017
108:Area
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
