Everything about West Sister Island totally explained
West Sister Island is an island of the
U.S. state of
Ohio located in
Lake Erie. The 82
acre (33.2
ha) island is in the
Western Basin of Lake Erie.
The island is jointly owned by the
United States Coast Guard and the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and managed and designated as a
wilderness area. The only such area in Ohio with this designation,
West Sister Island Wilderness is home to many
birds. To protect vital nesting areas of the island's bird population, public access is permitted for research only, and only one day a year. Due to the large number of birds vomiting and defecating from high in the trees the island has been nicknamed "Vomit Island" by the locals, and it was featured on an episode of the television show
Dirty Jobs with
Mike Rowe.
A
lighthouse was established on the westernmost point of West Sister Island in
1848 to mark the west end of the South Passage through Lake Erie’s
Bass Islands. Standing on a stone foundation, the limestone and brick tower rises to a height of 55 feet (17 m). The West Sister Island Lighthouse is still active, and is one of the oldest lighthouses to survive on the
Great Lakes.
Most of the island is covered with trees. Tall
hackberry trees make up most of the canopy, with
poison ivy on the floor.
Polygonatum and a great variety of ferns, wildflowers, mushrooms, and other plant life can also be found.
Ironically, after being established as a wildlife refuge, the island was used by the
United States Army for
artillery practice during
World War II. Although the wildlife population and the lighthouse were not significantly damaged, the keeper's house was destroyed. It is also reported that fuel tanks jettisoned by dive bombers can still be found on the island.
West Sister Island was a popular stop for
bootleggers during
Prohibition. The island provided a certain level of visual cover from the authorities for
rum runners crossing the lake. When approached by these authorities, bootleggers would often dump their illegal stash overboard. Legend has it that bottles of prohibition-era alcohol can still be found on the bottom of the lake around the island.
West Sister Island was once rumored to be the final resting place of missing
Teamsters boss
Jimmy Hoffa. It was speculated that after his abduction in
Detroit, he was brought by boat to the island and buried. The island's jungle-like environment would have made discovery of his remains difficult; however these conditions would also have made the deposit of his remains difficult, therefore the island isn't one of the more widely-considered possibilities in the case.
Further Information
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