Mamajuda Island
 The Mama Juda Lighthouse from a 1910 postcard | |
  Mamajuda Island  Mamajuda Island | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Detroit River |
| Coordinates | 42°11′32″N83°08′10″W/ 42.19222°N 83.13611°W |
| Administration | |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Wayne County |
| Township | Grosse Ile Township |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Mamajuda Island/mɑːməˈdʒuːdə/,sometimes identified asMama Juda Island,was anAmericanisland in theDetroit River.It is located just east of the northern tip ofGrosse Ile(Hennepin Point) and about 500 feet (152 m) west of theCanada–United States border.The island is part ofGrosse Ile TownshipinWayne County,Michigan.[1]It is the smallest of all chartedislands in the Detroit River.
The former 30-acre (12 ha) island has since been lost toerosion.Only a very small portion of it, consisting of a few boulders, appears above water during times of low water levels.[2]Because of that, the island has no definitive size and cannot be used for any purposes. The island does not appear on many maps anymore, but it can be seen on some of the most preciseonline maps.[3]The island is part of the much larger Mamajuda Island Shoal, which runs along the east coast of Grosse Ile. Theshoalis about 3–8 feet (0.9–2.4 m) beneath the surface and runs all the way toGrassy Island.[4]The area, including Mamajuda Island, has since become part of theDetroit River International Wildlife Refuge.[5]
The island was originally named after anAmerican Indianwoman who regularly camped on the island during fishing season.[2]In 1849, the Mama Juda Lighthouse was built on the island, and the lighthouse keeper and his family were the island's only inhabitants. The lighthouse itself was rebuilt in 1866.[6]However, the loose composition of the island was subject to slow erosion that eventually washed away the lighthouse in 1950. The whole island itself disappeared by 1960, and only a few boulders from the former island periodically protrude above the surface.[2]However, because of the underlying shoal, the area can pose a hazard for boating in the area, especially for largelake freightersthat regularly travel within close proximity.
References
[edit]- ^Buttle and Tuttle Ltd (2000–2008)."Wayne County islands place names: Mamajuda Island".Archived fromthe originalon March 17, 2007.RetrievedDecember 25,2009.
- ^abcBiggs, Jerry (Oct 2000)."Mission to Mama".Archived fromthe originalon 14 June 2011.RetrievedDecember 25,2009.
- ^Google Maps(2009)."Google Maps: Mamajuda Island".RetrievedDecember 25,2009.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^Hamilton, Sam D. (9 Aug 2001)."Fish and Wildlife Service: Federal Register"(PDF).RetrievedDecember 25,2009.
- ^U.S Environmental Protection Agency(2009)."Detroit River-Western Lake Erie Basin Indicator Project".RetrievedDecember 25,2009.
- ^About the Great Lakes (2009)."Lighthouse Design and Construction".Archived fromthe originalon November 6, 2009.RetrievedDecember 25,2009.
