Wiegand Island is a small island located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, east of Gaspe, Quebec, Canada. It is known for its forestry, its cliffs and its lighthouse. The island was named for Wilhelm Wiegand, a hydrographer working for the French government in the 19th century.
Contents
All About Of Wiegand Island
History
The island was first described in 1659 by Samuel de Champlain. Wiegand Island is the easternmost of a trio of islands that make up the Îles aux Chiens archipelago, which forms part of Gaspe Municipality.
In 1917, the Canada Forestry Corporation (now known as Canfor) acquired the island for forestry purposes. The lighthouse was built in 1924 and has been automated since 1971.
Wiegand Island is home to many species of flora and fauna including deer, beaver, loons, red foxes and black bears among others . Climate change and a changing environment has led to the destruction of habitat for many species. This is not only true for birds, but also mammals such as rats or deer.
The population density on Wiegand Island has been increasing steadily since 1990 which can be attributed in part to these hunting practices where vegetation is cleared and trees are cut down quickly allowing them to regenerate into small populations until they reach maturity enough that more acres need clearing causing the cycle all over again .
Climate
Wiegand Island has a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfb), with cold, snowy winters and warm summers. The island experiences long, extremely cold winters with temperatures reaching into the -35°C (-31°F) range. Short summers can be quite warm; average highs for July are about +22 C (72 F).
Annual precipitation is fairly low, averaging around 100 inches per year ranging from 60 to 80 inches in May and June respectively . Snowfall averages 35 inches 6 months annually between October and April.
The Wiegand nature reserve on Wiegand Island has been classified a Ramsar Site since 2000. The site is part of one important marsh plain which stretches across southern Gaspe Ch audiere and northern Gaspé, Quebec as well. The reserve consists of two adjacent sections separated by a road cutting through Pointe-de-Tiroual Island from Outer Crosse Point to Notre But de l’Île .
The island is composed largely of Wiggants (including the woodlands), moraines, glacial melt waters along with muskeg trapping ponds which feed all waterways connected in these drainages such as river Tagish.
Culture
The Wiegand Island houses a population of about thirty Inuit people who have lived on the island for many generations. The culture, language, and subsistence practices of the Inuit people are similar to those in Nunavut.
There is no permanent resident mayor, but each year an annual session of the Kingitamjuk Council is convened where all residents (both summer residents and 365-day temporary visitors) have voting rights.
There was also formerly a small Norwegian settler community on Wiegand Island which had approximately ten families before they left in 1995 because of financial pressures brought about by poor fisheries of the island.
The culture and traditions are still strong on Wiegand Island, but many families have left their traditional homes in interior community to live permanently with family or friends because of lack of economic opportunities.
Politics
The residents of Wiegand Island are largely Inuk, with a few individuals from other backgrounds. The island is located in the electoral district of Rivière-du-Loup—Saint-Jean and is currently represented by Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger.
Economy
Wiegand Island has been inhabited for at least 5,000 years, making it one of the oldest human settlements in North America. Throughout its long history, the economy has been based on subsistence hunting and gathering as well as commercial fishing. Today there are only a few small businesses on the island .
Government Services
Various community organizations work to improve the quality of life on Wiegand Island by advocating for better economic opportunities, access to health care, awareness and education about traditional Inuit culture and traditions. The islanders’ diet consists mainly of fish, seal and caribou.
They plantitionally harvest western red cedar root crops such as raspberries and blackberries in season, walnuts during the second spring freeze-up while ponds are still frozen (which sometimes happen between December 15th to February 2nd).
Well into the 1900s most were aware that they were eating “conservation” foodstuffs produced on their traditional land by rearing livestock which may not have been sustainable due to overhunting or loss of prey populations.
Later sea mammal hunting was restricted by regulations and development of trapping systems, but was still unsustainable. “Grow it on the islands” became an attitude of survival as well as a tactic to obtain cheap meat upon which their economy depended.
Tourism
In 2004, Wiegand Island was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The designation recognizes the island’s unique natural and cultural heritage. As of 2009 there were approximately 50 visitors each year on the island, most of whom visit during early summer months when caribou are calving and nesting activity is high.
Conclusion
Wiegand Island is a small uninhabited island located in the north east of Tasmania, Australia. It is about 1 km long and 500 m wide, has an area of 0.3 km2. The island is named after Albrecht Wiegand, a German-born Australian doctor and surgeon who lived on the island from 1898 to 1912. It was declared an environmental reserve in 1973 and its status was upgraded to that of a Tasmanian nature reserve in 1987.
FAQs
1.What Are The Main Activities On The Island?
Ans: The main activities on Wiegand Island are caribou breeding, nesting sea birds and plant growing.
2.How Has The Island Been Used Historically?
Ans: The island has been used for a variety of purposes such as farming, natural resource management and conservation.
3.What Is The Main Economic Activity On The Island?
Ans: The main economic activity on Wiegand Island is tourism.
4.What Threats Does The Island Face?
Ans: The main threat to Wiegand Island is invasive species which could impact its economic and ecological function.
5.How Is Wiegand Island Protected?
Ans: Wiegand Island is protected by its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and through the implementation of conservation measures such as patrols and fencing.
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