Hat Island
Hat Island is located in Michigan
Hat Island
Hat Island
Geography
LocationLake Michigan
Coordinates45°48′57″N 85°18′00″W / 45.81583°N 85.30000°W / 45.81583; -85.30000
Area10 acres (4.0 ha)
Highest elevation584 ft (178 m)
Administration
StateMichigan
CountyCharlevoix County
TownshipSt. James Township
Demographics
PopulationUninhabited

Hat Island is a small island on the eastern edge of the Beaver Island archipelago in Lake Michigan. It is about 10 acres (0.04 km²) in size and located in eastern St. James Township, Charlevoix County, Michigan. It became part of the Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge in 1943.[1]

Like other islands in the Michigan Islands NWR, Hat Island was formed during the Wisconsin glaciation when a melting glacier randomly dumped a large quantity of boulders and gravel in a spot that became part of the lakebed. The island was selected for inclusion in the Michigan Islands NMWR because of its standing as a potential breeding ground for herring gulls and other fish-eating birds.

During World War 2 it was used as a practice bombing site by the US Navy.

Hat Island is roughly four-sided, with an SSE-pointing forepeak that is said to look like the upturned brim of a hat.

References

  1. ↑ Michigan Atlas and Gazetteer (10th ed.). Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. 2002. p. 93.
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