About Isle Royale Found off Lake Superior 132,018 acres this area was federally designated as wilderness on October 20, Isle Royale is made up of one large island and 450 smaller islands – It is a total of 850 square miles including submerged land The submerged land extends into the largest fresh water lake in the world

Map The Green area is where Isle Royale is.

Biome Temperate Deciduous Forest

Climate Lake Superior does not exceed 54º F. Island does not exceed 80º F. Dense fog in spring and summer months Throughout the seasons there is rain and thunderstorms. The weather or rough seas normally do not delay departures to and from the island. The summer months are October to April and there is very little direct human intrusion during these months.

Wildlife There is only 18 mammal species. There is not much immigration of animals to the island, so there the species create simple ecosystems. The species on Isle Royale create their own survival and extinction cycle. Some animals are moose and wolves. The animals usually reign Isle Royale even in the summer season. Some trees are hardwoods, birch, and aspen

Wolves and Moose

Threats to the Park Global Warming Fire – 95% of the park is in a Wildland Fire Use zone(allowed to burn during a fire) Logging Invasive Species: Gypsy Moth, Spiny Water Flea Human influence is not a huge threat to the park. Fire is the biggest threat.

Conservation Efforts On February 17,1981 Isle Royale was designed as a Biosphere Reserve – the program protects different ecosystems throughout the world and does research. – Isle Royale was chosen because it represents the northern forest lake biome and is unspoiled nature. Isle Royale offers great research in a remote yet simple ecosystem. – There is very little human influence in this park. – The Ecological Study of Wolves on Isle Royale is the longest running large mammal predator-prey study in earth.

Interesting Facts The number of visitors a day to Isle Royale is less than Yellowstone but the Isle Royale receives the highest per acre backcountry of all the National Parks in the U.S. The park is closed during winter months due to harsh and dangerous conditions on Lake Superior. Michigan contains fourteen different wilderness areas – Isle Royale National Park is the largest of all the wildness areas

Works Cited