Browne Island is an uninhabited Canadian island in Lake Superior. The island is accessible by boat only and has no facilities. It is part of the Hiawatha National Forest and is managed by the Nishnawbe Aski Nation. The island has a surface of 2.2 km2, making it the smallest of the Great Lakes islands. It was named after James Browne, the founder of the Hudson’s Bay Company.
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History
Browne Island was first visited by Europeans in 1679 when a group of French fur traders led by Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville landed on the island to trade with the local Ojibwe. The island remained sparsely populated until around 1850 when it began to be used as a summer home for wealthy businessmen and tourists.
In 1994, an abandoned cabin that had been presumed lost underwater was discovered on the southern coast of the island, leading to a 2003 excavation by the Ontario Provincial Police. The cabin was found to date from 1832 and contained objects belonging to Robert Grattan Gabrielson. These items have been returned to England in small packages through the International Centre for Kettle Island Studies at Queen’s University in Kingston.
Climate
The climate on Browne Island is continental, with cold winters and warm summers. Precipitation is low and typically does not exceed 325 mm per year. Average annual temperatures range from 0 °C (32 °F) in November to 22.8 °C (72.0 °F) in July but are slightly cooler on the exposed western shores of Browne Island during winter months due to their greater elevation above sea level, proximity to Lake Superior’s frigid waters, and distance from direct air masses entering mainland Ontario resulting in corresponding proximity to Lake Superior’s relatively stable air masses and moderating influence.
The island experiences extreme temperatures in both summer and winter; the wind chills factor during the winter months averages between −7.5 °C (19.3° F) – 13 °C(55 °F).
Culture
The culture on Browne Island is heavily influenced by the French. There are several restaurants, a bakery, and shops that cater to tourists. The island is host to a French archaeological site where there are burial grounds that were used between the last centuries BCE and 1649 CE as it did not fall under Jesuit control until 1715.
Here, Bulger Mound was built during this same period on an average foraging settlement along with several other mounds marking most of what is known today as the surrounding area. There are also translations in English at some of these sites trying to translate things like bones and historical artifacts.
Politics
The politics on Browne Island are influenced by Canada and the United States. The island is a part of the Province of Ontario and is politically autonomous from both these countries. There is an elected office known as the Mayor that runs things, along with a town council that makes decisions about what goes on in each community on Browne Island.
Tourists
The island is frequented mostly by tourists traveling to the islands of Manitoulin Island, Little Current, and Sturgeon Bay in Ontario. Despite being a popular tourist destination there has only been one year where it was undecided as to whether or not attention would be drawn on this issue. During that time directly after Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana almost everyone else came through Kenora leaving Browne Island alone until 2008 when both groups finally arrived at roughly the same time.
Due to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his government focusing on a “Just in Time” education curriculum at the secondary level, there are so few students from Browne Island that every year’s school board gets new names for their northside branches of schools, making it difficult not to repeat name-lookup sentences over and over again: such as Northlake Collegiate going under the title Northcreek Secondary School. Browne is governed by those in charge of a school board.
Other (non-government) schools located within the city limits include Cathedral East Community School Board and Browns Bay Collegiate Institute.
Government services
Most government services are provided by the City of Kenora which includes police, fire, public works, and zoning. There is also a Department of Natural Resources located on the island that provides assistance with land management, hunting and fishing licenses as well as conservation programs.
The plant is owned by Essar Steel Algoma Inc and has a yearly production rate of 9.5 million tonnes (rock), processed on both sides with office space for 140 people, it once was with 10 blast furnaces melting ore daily from 7:00 am to 6:30 pm local time or 8hours; this now includes four white hearth furnaces in the hot strip mill as well producing pipe and castings such as valves, wheels, etc (the plant produces about 25% of the world’s pipe for drinking water).
Tourism
Browne Island is best known for its natural resources, including the nearby Naica Naval Base and granite quarries. The island also has a small tourism industry that depends on visitors who come to explore the area’s natural attractions, such as swimming in freshwater lakes and hikes in the surrounding mountains. Regulation of Sand in Ontario Zone: C
Overall sand used by industry December 2011 was 2.5 million cubic meters (136 million tons), 96% is normally imported, making it a domestic liability for 130 thousand dollars per day.
A permit requirement along with area-wide industrial zoning prohibits the use for grading activities outside Industrial Central Zoning Area Part 4 at 609 tonnes year-round and 592 tonnes permanent indexing allowed from late June to mid-October.
Transport
Highway 2 links the island to mainland Ontario, while Highway 11 provides access from Sault Ste Marie. There are also limited ferry connections available between the island and other parts of Northern Ontario.
Cuisine
The cuisine of Browne Island is predominantly based around seafood, with a focus on fresh, local ingredients. Specialties include bannock bread and lobster thermidor.
Conclusion
Browne Island is an uninhabited Canadian island in Lake Superior. The island is accessible by boat only and has no facilities. It is part of the Hiawatha National Forest and is managed by the Nishnawbe Aski Nation. The island has a surface of 2.2 km2, making it the smallest of the Great Lakes islands. It was named after James Browne, the founder of the Hudson’s Bay Company.
FAQs
What’s the Weather Like in Summertime at Browne Island?
The summers in Browne Island are typically hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from 18°C to 30°C. Conditions can become more extreme with thunderstorms, high humidity levels, and strong winds.
How Can I Get to Browne Island?
The quickest way to get to Browne Island is by boat. There are several ferry services that offer routes between the island and mainland Ontario.
Is There a Ferry or Boat Service From the Mainland to Browne Island?
There are a few ferry services that offer routes between the island and mainland Ontario, but the fastest route is by boat.
What is Browne Island?
Browne Island is an uninhabited Canadian island in Lake Superior.
How Much Does It Cost to Visit Browne Island and How Long Will It Take Me to Get There?
There is no fee to visit Browne Island and it takes approximately two hours to reach the island by boat.
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