Bois Blanc Island (Ontario)

Bois Blanc Island
Nickname: Boblo Island
Aerial view of Boblo Island (1941)
Bois Blanc Island is located in Wayne County, Michigan
Bois Blanc Island
Location within the province of Ontario
Bois Blanc Island is located in Ontario
Bois Blanc Island
Bois Blanc Island (Ontario)
Geography
LocationDetroit River
Coordinates42°05′44″N 83°07′14″W / 42.09556°N 83.12056°W / 42.09556; -83.12056
Area1.10 km2 (0.42 sq mi)
Administration
Canada
ProvinceOntario
CountyEssex
CityAmherstburg
Additional information
Time zone
 • Summer (DST)

Bois Blanc Island, commonly referred to as Boblo Island, is an island in the Detroit River on the Canadian side of the border and is part of Amherstburg, Ontario. The island is about 4.0 kilometres (2.5 mi) long, 0.80 km (0.5 mi) wide and 110 hectares (272 acres) in size.

The main northbound shipping channel of the Detroit River currently lies between Boblo Island and the Amherstburg mainland. A stone lighthouse was built in 1836 on the southern tip of Boblo Island which marks the historical beginning of the Detroit River navigation channel for ships travelling upriver from Lake Erie in more modern times. It is now part of the Bois Blanc Island Lighthouse and Blockhouse.