Madeline Island

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Madeline Island is an island of the U.S. state of Wisconsin located in Lake Superior approximately two miles northwest of Bayfield, Wisconsin and connected to that town by ferry line. It is the largest of the Apostle Islands, although it is not included within the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. It is the only one of the islands open to commercial development.

The unincorporated community of La Pointe, which is the main settlement within the town of La Pointe, is located on the southwestern tip of the island, with Grant’s Point being the southeastern most point. The island was originally home to the Native American Ojibwa tribe—who called it Mooningwanekaaning ("Place full of Yellow-shafted Flickers")—but was settled by French fur traders, who in 1693 founded the fort that eventually became the community of La Pointe. Later, in the 19th Century, La Pointe became the site of an important post of the American Fur Company under Michel Cadotte whose wife Ikwesewe (Madeline) gives the island its current name. Today, the island's fur trading history is preserved in the Madeline Island Historical Museum.

Aside from being close to the National Lakeshore, Madeline Island also contains Big Bay State Park, a large park on the north end of the island. It is sometimes called Eagles' Nest for the bald eagles that make their nests in the tall pine trees on the cliffs. It encloses a large lagoon and a unique bog/dune ecosystem. There is another, smaller park on the island called Big Bay Town Park that is closer to town and free to the public. It has access to the longest beach on the island, and adjoins the state park. In the Summer because of direct sunlight, the water temperature in the sheltered sandy bay can rise to 20 degrees centigrade while the water just 200 feet of shore will remain a frigid 9 degrees.

The island itself is fourteen miles long and three miles wide. It is the only developed island of all the Apostle islands, although there are lighthouses on many of the islands and small, preserved fishing communities on a few (such as Stockton Island, Raspberry Island and Manitou Island (Wisconsin)). The 2000 U.S. Census reported the permanent population of the island as two hundred forty-six, but does not include the large number of visitors and seasonal residents. The island is a popular vacation spot for people from all over the Midwest.

The island can only be reached by ferry during the summer months, which can be quite expensive. In addition, the roads on the island are narrow and become crowded in the summer months. Some tourists elect to leave their vehicle at the Bayfield ferry dock and bring a bicycle. The five mile ride is flat and level, and includes beautiful views of the lake. Those traveling without a bicycle may rent one on the island. Many visitors who are less athletically inclined choose to rent a moped.

In the winter, ice usually becomes too thick for ferry traffic. When ice conditions allow, the "ice road" officially opens to vehicle traffic from Bayfield across the frozen surface to Madeline Island. The ice road is traditionally marked by Christmas trees and is officially an extension of County Highway H. If ice is too thin for automobile traffic, but too thick for ferry traffic, access to the island is by windsled only. The windsled often operates in early winter and spring.

On the eastern end of the island is an enclave of the Bad River Indian Reservation of approximately 650 acres.