Lake Huron's Manitoulin Island is the world's largest freshwater island with an area of 2 766 square kilometres. Part of Ontario, Canada, the island separates the larger part of Lake Huron to its south and west from Georgian Bay to its east. Manitoulin Island itself has 108 freshwater lakes - some of which have their own islands.
There are 18 towns on Manitoulin, which includes 6 Ojibwa reserves. During the summer months the population on the island grows by more than a quarter of its usual size due to the popularity of boating and other activities offered to tourists.
The Island is generally considered to be an above water rising of a geological structure running south into Niagara Falls and further towards the Carolina forests of the United States.
Year-round motor vehicle access to the island is via a one lane swing bridge that crosses the North Channel at Little Current. From late spring to early October, a daily passenger-vehicle ferry, the Chi-Cheemaun, travels between Tobermory on the tip of the Bruce Peninsula and South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island.
