Lake Erie contains Pelee Island, Canada’s southernmost inhabited place.
Pelee Island is in the western basin of Lake Erie, approximately 20 kilometers from Ohio and 40 kilometers from mainland Ontario. It is part of Essex County and is reached by ferry or aircraft rather than by a bridge.
The island’s relatively southern position gives it a mild climate compared with much of Canada. Its natural areas include wetlands and rare Carolinian forest, while agriculture—especially vineyards—has long been important to the local economy. Pelee Island is also associated with Point Pelee National Park on the nearby Ontario mainland, although the park is not on the island.
Pelee Island is sometimes mixed up with South Bass Island or Kelleys Island, both in Lake Erie but in the United States. The island’s geographic distinction comes from its location, not from being Lake Erie’s largest island.