| Washington Island (wisconsin) |
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Washington Island is about 30 square miles in size, approximately 5 miles wide by 6 miles long. Together with the Door Peninsula, Washington Island forms a treacherous Strait that connects the Bay Of Green Bay to the rest of Lake Michigan . Early French explorers named this water way, now littered with Shipwreck s, ''Porte des Mort Passage'', which means "Death's Door Passage" and gives Door County and Door Peninsula their names. {Link without Title} HISTORY Originally named Colonel John Miller Island, the island received a new name in 1816 from the crew of the Schooner '' Washington '' in honor of both their vessel and President Washington . Most of the people who settled on the island were Scandinavian Immigrant s, especially Iceland ers. Today, Washington Island is the one of the oldest Icelandic communities in the United States and among the largest outside of Iceland itself. {Link without Title} TRANSPORTATION The easiest way to visit Washington Island is to take a 30 minute Ferry ride from the Door Peninsula to Detroit Harbor on the island. A freight, automotive and passenger ferry departs daily from the Northport Pier , or a passenger-only ferry departing from Gills Rock featuring both ferry rides and narrated train tours upon arriving on Washington Island. The Washington Island Airport , a small public with two grass runways, is also located on the island. EXTERNAL LINKS
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