When the Gods of Nature shaped North America they set Manitoulin aside. They dotted the land with lakes and wetlands. They cloaked it in woodlands and spread wide miles of savannas. They rolled its hills gently and reared its bluffs high as rugged headlands. Many species of animals were allowed to thrive here undisturbed.
The land itself they made fertile
and planted on it a garden representative of the continent
itself. From the four corners of the mainland they brought
offerings. Upon long forgotten rivers they freighted in seeds
from both the east and the west, from their distant mountains,
prairies and coast lands. With the glaciers, the frozen rivers,
came seeds and spores from the great northern wilderness as far
distant as the arctic. The south lands peddled their offerings
north on warm winds and wild creatures. For warmth Nature tilted the island southward to draw from the sun's heat summer and winter, while its northern headlands acted as a buffer against arctic blasts. Onto the island Nature breathed growthy weather systems that in summer brought sunny days and moonlit nights, misty mornings and starry evenings and a scattering of rousing thunderstorms. Springs and autumns were allowed to linger. In winter the quiet land rested under snowclad fields and forests and ironclad lakes.
To protect this land they placed it
in the center of the Great Lakes surrounded by its own great
moat; Lake Huron - that according to its various moods may gently
lap the island's limestone pavements on the south or thunder
against its headlands on the north. As a further barrier to
invasion the LaCloche Range of Mountains was erected as a rocky
palisade between it and the mainland.Finally to tell the story of the special place Nature recorded its history on the limestone pavements in the form of easily seen fossils for all generations to discover.
The Gods brought first-men to the island by canoe and dog sled. When they discovered its wonderful natural wealth they knew they had found "Manitoulin", the home of the Gods. These early inhabitants built their homes on the sandy shores of Manitoulin's deep bays where many still remain. Later-men found a home in similar bays and inlets where they established fishing stations and logging ports many of which also remain. As a result of this settlement pattern the names of most villages reflect their affinity with the water upon which settlers arrived.
It wasn't
until the 1930's that the God's gave
modern-men the tools to breach the defenses of this remote and
special place. They showed man how to build a road through the
mountains and a swing bridge onto the island at Little Current -
the drawbridge that finally spanned the Island's moat. They too
made homes and remained on the island calledGod's Home - Manitoulin.
Today they remain as gentle people who add to the Island's charm. Visitors are always welcome to cross the "moat" to this special place.
Come visit Manitoulin.
