Apostle Islands

The Apostle Islands are a group of 22 islands in Lake Superior, off the Bayfield Peninsula in northern Wisconsin. [ [http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/dictionary/index.asp?action=view&term_id=9378&search_term=apostle+islands Apostle Islands ] ] The majority of the islands are located in Ashland County—only Sand, York, Eagle, and Raspberry Islands are located in Bayfield County. All the islands except for Madeline Island are part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

The islands were the spiritual home for the Lake Superior Chippewa. The islands were named the Apostle Islands by New France historian Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix, [ [http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/diary/003429.asp Historic Diaries: James Doty, 1820] ; Wisconsin Historical Society; Retrieved July 26 2008] who named them after the 12 apostles (even though there were 22 islands).cite book|last=Paprock|first=John-Brian|coauthors=Teresa Peneguy Paprock|title=Sacred Sites of Wisconsin|publisher=Big Earth Publishing|date=2001|pages=105|isbn=1931599017|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=sgf7JmzmBO0C&pg=PA105&dq=%22madeline+island%22+%22spiritual%22&sig=ACfU3U1uKT0om-SpBWYlOS5_MtP1F2ks_g]

Environment

It is important when people are going to use an area for their recreational purposes that they factor in the existing environment. Animals, plants, and the climate must all be taken into account. "Island environments, naturally isolated, provide important habitat for numerous bird species, mammals, plants, amphibians and aquatic species." [Animals. 20 March.2007. NPS. 4 Mar. 2008 .] The Apostle Islands are a natural home to many various plants and animals.

The type of bear that inhabits the Apostle Islands is the black bear. According to the National Park service, "One of the greatest concentrations of black bears in North America is found on Stockton Island in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Bears also regularly inhabit Sand and Oak islands, and, due to their mobility, may be found on just about any of the Apostle Islands." [Bear of the Apostles. NPS. 4 Mar. 2008 .]

Due to the large quantity of the black bear on some of the islands it is important to recognize the bear and its territory. “Black bears come in more colors than any other North American mammal, ranging from black to white with intermediate shades of brown, cinnamon, blond, and bluish gray.” [Black Bear Color Phases. 2008. NABC. 4 Mar. 2008 .cience/plants.htm>.] Despite what is normally assumed about black bears, these animals are very shy. Black bears tend to less aggressive than the average house dog and usually do not attack humans.

"The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore provides regionally diverse and unique plant communities."(NPS)Plants. NPS. 4 Mar. 2008 ] Precautions must be taken when using places like the islands for recreational purposes. For example: when walking on a trail, stay on the trail. So there is no disruption of the natural equilibrium. "Over 800 plant species occur within the lakeshore, including Wisconsin State listed endangered and threatened species."Birds

"The Lakeshore provides important nesting habitat for the following colonial nesting birds: herring and ring- billed gulls, double-crested cormorants, great blue herons, and cliff swallows. Gull and Eagle Islands combined have 88% of the lakeshore's breeding herring gull populations and 80% of the herring gull breeding population on the entire Wisconsin shore of Lake Superior. Eagle Island has the only great blue heron rookery in the park." [Birds. 8 Jan. 2008. NPS. 4 Mar. 2008 .]

ea caves

Some of the best sea caves of the great lakes are located on the shorelines of the Apostle Islands. Many of the best sea caves to visit are located at the following locations: Swallow Point on Sand Island, the North Shore of Devils Island, and near Squaw Bay on the mainland. Arches and delicate chambers are visible . During the winters, visitors can see frozen waterfalls and chambers filled with millions of delicate icicles.

Islands

( [http://www.nps.gov/apis/naturescience/upload/APIS_Final1.pdf source] )

ee also

*Apostle Islands Lighthouses

References

External links

* [http://www.nps.gov/apis/ National Park Service' Apostle Islands National Lakeshore web site]
* [http://www.friendsoftheapostleislands.org/index.html Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore web site]