Skip to content
Archipelago

    Lake SuperiorUnited States

    46°58′N 90°40′W

    Apostle Islands

    The Apostle Islands are a group of 22 islands in Lake Superior, off the Bayfield Peninsula in northern Wisconsin. The majority of the islands are located in Ashland County—only Sand, York, Eagle, and Raspberry Islands are located in Bayfield County.

    We enjoyed a 55-mile cruise around the Apostle Islands.
    We enjoyed a 55-mile cruise around the Apostle Islands.

    Tim Wilson from Blaine, MN, USA / CC BY 2.0

    Chart

    16 landforms

    Overview

    The Apostle Islands are a group of 22 islands in Lake Superior, off the Bayfield Peninsula in northern Wisconsin. The majority of the islands are located in Ashland County—only Sand, York, Eagle, and Raspberry Islands are located in Bayfield County. All the islands except for Madeline Island are part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. The islands in Ashland County are all in the Town of La Pointe, except for Long Island, which is in the Town of Sanborn, while those in Bayfield County are in the Towns of Russell and Bayfield.

    From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Census, cataloged

    • Major islands6
    • Minor islands8
    • Islets2
    • Rocks & skerries0

    Major islands

    6
    • Madeline Island

      Madeline Island

      Area
      59.5 km²
      High point
      264 m

      Madeline Island (Ojibwe: Mooningwanekaaning) is an island in Lake Superior. Located in Ashland County, Wisconsin, it has long been a spiritual center of the Lake Superior Chippewa. Although the largest of the Apostle Islands, it is not included in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

    • Bear Island

      Bear Island

      Area
      7.3 km²
      High point
      277 m

      Bear Island is one of the Apostle Islands of northern Wisconsin in Lake Superior, and is part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Unlike nearby Madeline Island, it is not open to commercial development. There is another Bear Island in Balsam Lake.

    • Stockton Island

      Area
      39.9 km²
      High point
      264 m
    • Oak Island

      Area
      20.3 km²
      High point
      348 m

      Oak Island is one of the Apostle Islands, in northern Wisconsin, in Lake Superior, and is part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

    • Sand Island

      Area
      11.5 km²
      High point
      217 m
    • Basswood Island

      Area
      7.7 km²
      High point
      260 m

      Basswood Island is a Wisconsin island in Lake Superior. It is one of the Apostle Islands and a part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

    Minor islands

    8

    Islets

    2

    Also in the area

    5

    Inside the group's outline but not confirmed as members by any source.

    Figures

    Comparative heights

    Sea level100 m200 m300 m400 m348 mOak279 mOuter277 mBear264 mMadeline264 mStockton260 mBasswood255 mHermit245 mOtter244 mManitou232 mMichigan229 mRocky227 mCat225 mRaspberry222 mIronwood
    High points by island, metres above sea level.

    Islands by area

    0.010.1110100Madeline: 59.5 km²MadelineStockton: 39.9 km²StocktonOuter: 31.6 km²OuterOak: 20.3 km²OakSand: 11.5 km²SandBasswood: 7.7 km²BasswoodBear: 7.3 km²BearMichigan: 6 km²MichiganCat: 5.4 km²CatManitou: 5.3 km²ManitouOtter: 5.3 km²OtterRocky: 4.2 km²RockyHermit: 3.1 km²HermitIronwood: 2.6 km²IronwoodSouth Twin: 1.3 km²South TwinDevils: 1.3 km²DevilsRaspberry: 1.1 km²RaspberryYork: 1.1 km²YorkNorth Twin: 0.66 km²North TwinEagle: 0.08 km²EagleGull: 0.01 km²Gull
    km², log scale
    Madeline Island59.5 km²
    Stockton Island39.9 km²
    Outer Island31.6 km²
    Oak Island20.3 km²
    Sand Island11.5 km²
    Basswood Island7.7 km²
    Bear Island7.3 km²
    Michigan Island6 km²
    Cat Island5.4 km²
    Manitou Island5.3 km²
    Otter Island5.3 km²
    Rocky Island4.2 km²
    Hermit Island3.1 km²
    Ironwood Island2.6 km²
    South Twin Island1.3 km²
    Devils Island1.3 km²
    Raspberry Island1.1 km²
    York Island1.1 km²
    North Twin Island0.66 km²
    Eagle Island0.08 km²
    Gull Island0.01 km²

    Sources

    Facts

    • Geometry, areas and high points: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Copernicus GLO-30, via Talus.
    • Wikidata
    • Talus
    • Wikipedia

    Photographs