The beauty of Thousand Islands

Lake Ontario is home to a group of 1,864 islands of varying sizes, collectively known as the Thousand Islands. Some islands belong to the US state of New York, while others belong to the Canadian province of Ontario. After visiting Kingston, tourists often choose the Thousand Islands as their next destination. They usually stay in the village of Lansdowne because it has a friendship bridge connecting it to the US village of Clayton.

Thousand Islands National Park is located on 21 large islands and several smaller rocky islets. The park is also part of the UNESCO-recognized Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve (2022). It is considered one of the most biodiverse areas in Canada. Visitors love Thousand Islands National Park for the opportunity to take boat trips between the islands, observing wildlife such as coyotes, black-capped tits, and beavers that congregate along the shorelines. Many families also choose to camp overnight in the park. The campsites are equipped with basic amenities.

Chimney Island is a Canadian National Historic Site. The island originally belonged to a wealthy French merchant who was mysteriously murdered in 1799. When the war broke out between the United States and Canada (then a British colony) in 1812, the British built a fort on Chimney Island to protect the St. Lawrence River route. The fort withstood an American attack and was abandoned after the war ended. The only structure remaining relatively intact on the island is the chimney built by the merchant.

Not far from Chimney Island is Dark Island, home to the ruins of Singer Castle. This castle was built by the American millionaire Frederick Gilbert Bourne (1851-1919), then director of the famous Singer sewing machine manufacturing company. Bourne was an admirer of the works of the great writer Walter Scott and wanted to build a castle in the medieval style. The millionaire's dream was fulfilled. Many visitors to Singer Castle feel as if they have stepped back in time to Europe five or six centuries ago.

If visitors want to admire the panoramic view of the Thousand Islands, they should visit Hill Island. On the island is a 620-meter-tall observation tower built in 1965. From the top of the tower, visitors will have the best view of the entire Alexandria Bay area, located between the United States and Canada. The tower also attracts many astronomy enthusiasts because it is not affected by as much light pollution as neighboring Canadian and American cities.

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