Editing Mackinac Island (section)

== Geography ==
[[File:Mackinac Island July 2010 13 (Arch Rock).JPG|thumb|left|alt=An arch-shaped rock. The opening in the rock is sizable, and part of a road, trees, and a lake can be seen through the rock.|A view of [[M-185 (Michigan highway)|M-185]] through Arch Rock]]
[[File:Straits of Mackinac crx.jpg|thumb|right|Mackinac Island is the top-left island of the three islands just to the east (right) of the Straits of Mackinac.]]
Mackinac Island is located in [[Lake Huron]] at the eastern end of the [[Straits of Mackinac]], between the state's [[Upper Peninsula of Michigan|Upper]] and [[Lower Peninsula of Michigan|Lower Peninsula]]s.<ref name="HistplacesPDF"/> It is about {{Convert|8|mi|km|0}} in circumference and {{Convert|3.8|sqmi|km2|1}} in total area.<ref name="MITB">{{cite web |title=Stats And Facts – Mackinac Island |url=https://www.mackinacisland.org/blog/mackinac-island-by-the-numbers |website=Mackinac Island |publisher=Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau |access-date=23 April 2024}}</ref> The highest point of the island is the historic [[Fort Holmes]] (originally called Fort George by the British before 1815), which is {{Convert|320|ft|m|0}} above lake level and {{Convert|890|ft|m|0}} above sea level.<ref name="Holmes"/>

===Geology===
Mackinac Island was formed as the glaciers of the last [[Wisconsin glaciation|ice age]] began to melt around 13,000&nbsp;BC. The bedrock strata that underlie the island are much older, dating to Late [[Silurian]] and Early [[Devonian]] time, about 400 to {{Nowrap|420 million}} years ago. Subsurface deposits of [[halite]] (rock salt) dissolved, allowing the collapse of overlying limestones; these once-broken but now solidified rocks comprise the Mackinac [[Breccia]]. The melting glaciers formed the Great Lakes, and the receding lakewaters eroded the [[limestone]] bedrock, forming the island's steep cliffs and rock formations. At least three previous lake levels are known, two of them higher than the present shore: [[Glacial Lake Algonquin|Algonquin]]-level lakeshores dating to about 13,000 years ago and the Nipissing-level shorelines formed 4,000 to 6,000 years ago.<ref name="Shorelines">{{cite web |author=William L. Blewett |title=Understanding Ancient Shorelines in the National Parklands of the Great Lakes |publisher=Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore |url=http://www.nps.gov/piro/naturescience/upload/August_2009_PIRO_Resource_Report_Blewett.pdf |access-date=May 22, 2010}}</ref> During an intermediate period of low water between these two high-water stages, the Straits of Mackinac shrank to a narrow gorge that discharged its water over Mackinac Falls, located just east of the island (beyond Arch Rock), into Lake Huron.<ref name="Waterfall">{{cite web |title=Ancient Waterfall Discovered Off Mackinac Island's Shoreline |publisher=[[Mackinac Island Town Crier]] |url=http://www.mackinacislandnews.com/news/2007/0825/Front_page/003.html |access-date=September 10, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719181426/http://www.mackinacislandnews.com/news/2007/0825/front_page/003.html |archive-date=July 19, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

As the Great Lakes assumed their present levels, the waterfall was inundated and Mackinac Island took on its current size.<ref name="HistplacesPDF"/> The steep cliffs were one of the primary reasons for the British army's choice of the island for a fortification. Their decision differed from that of the French army, which had built [[Fort Michilimackinac]] about 1715 near present-day [[Mackinaw City]]. The limestone formations are still part of the island's appeal. One of the most popular geologic formations is [[Arch Rock (Mackinac Island)|Arch Rock]], a natural limestone arch, 146&nbsp;feet (45&nbsp;m) above the ground.<ref name="High Cliffs"/> Other popular geologic formations include [[Devil's Kitchen (cave)|Devil's Kitchen]], [[Skull Cave (Mackinac Island)|Skull Cave]], and [[Sugar Loaf (Mackinac Island)|Sugar Loaf]].<ref name="Historic Treasure"/>

=== Nature ===
[[File:Blue Jay-27527.jpg|thumb|right|alt=A blue jay, a small bird with blue feathers.|A blue jay, one of Mackinac Island's resident birds]]

Mackinac Island contains a wide variety of terrain, including fields, marshes, bogs, coastline, [[boreal forest]], and limestone formations. The environment is legally preserved on the island by the State Historic Park designation. About half of the shoreline and adjacent waters off Mackinac Island, including the harbor (Haldimand Bay) and the southern and western shore from Mission Point to Pointe aux Pins, is protected as part of the [[Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve]], a state [[marine park]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Bailey |first=Dan Holden |title=Mackinac Straits |work=Diver Magazine |date=September 1999 |url=http://divermag.com/archives/sept99/mackinac_sep99.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060620215815/http://divermag.com/archives/sept99/mackinac_sep99.html |archive-date=June 20, 2006 |access-date=May 23, 2007}}</ref>
As it is separated from the mainland by 3<!--statue-->&nbsp;miles (4.8&nbsp;km) of water, few large [[mammal]]s inhabit the island, except those that traverse the ice during the winter months. Rabbits, fox, raccoons, otters, mink, gray and red squirrels, and chipmunks are all common, as are the occasional beaver and coyote.<ref name="Coyote">{{cite web |title=Coyote Population Begins To Cause Concern on Mackinac Island |last1=Gould|first1=Karen|work=[[St. Ignace News]] |url=http://www.stignacenews.com/news/2006/1026/News/100.html |access-date=April 12, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502011007/http://www.stignacenews.com/news/2006/1026/News/100.html |archive-date=May 2, 2009}}</ref> [[Bat]]s are abundant on the island, as it has numerous caves that serve as dwellings for them and a large insect population for the bats to prey on.<ref>{{cite book|page=240|title=Adventure Guide to Michigan|last1=Hillstrom|first1=Kevin|last2=Hillstrom|first2=Laurie Collier|year=1998|publisher=Hunter Publishing|isbn=9781556508202}}</ref>

The island is frequented by migratory birds on their trips between their summer and winter habitats, as it lies on a major migration route.<ref>{{cite book|page=60|title=Explore Michigan: Mackinac|last1=Cantor|first1=George|year=2005|publisher=University of Michigan Press|isbn=9780472031115}}</ref> [[Eagle]]s and [[hawk]]s are abundant in April and May, while smaller birds such as [[yellow warbler]]s, [[American redstart]], and [[indigo bunting]] are more common in early summer. Near the shoreline, [[gulls]], [[herons]], [[geese]], and [[loon]]s are common. Owls, including [[snowy owl]]s and [[great grey owl]]s, come to the island from the Arctic to hunt in the warmer climate. Other birds, such as [[chickadees]], [[northern cardinal|cardinals]], [[blue jay]]s, and [[woodpecker]]s, live on the island year-round. [[Toads]] have also been found.<ref name="ecology">{{cite web |last=Slevin |first=Mary McGuire |title=Ecosystem |publisher=MackinacIsland.org |url=http://www.mackinacisland.org/ecosystem.html |access-date=May 17, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070515092706/http://www.mackinacisland.org/ecosystem.html <!--Added by H3llBot--> |archive-date=May 15, 2007}}</ref>

Mackinac Island contains over 600 species of [[vascular plants]]. Flowering plants and wildflowers are abundant, including [[trillium]], lady slippers, forget-me-nots, violets, [[trout lily]], [[spring beauty]], [[hepatica]], [[buttercup]]s, and [[hawkweed]]s in the forests and [[orchids]], [[fringed gentian]], butter-and-eggs, and [[Arisaema triphyllum|jack-in-the-pulpit]] along the shoreline. The island's forests are home to many varieties of trees, such as [[maple]], [[birch]], [[elm]], [[Cedrus|cedar]], [[pine]], and [[spruce]].<ref name="ecology"/>

{{wide image|MarquetteParkMI.png|900px|[[Marquette Park (Mackinac Island)|Marquette Park]] on Mackinac Island|alt=A panoramic view of a park. To the left is a rocky cliff. A wide green space, named Marquette Park, can be seen in the foreground. Ships are docked in a harbor in the background, and another island is visible in the distance.}}