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Pelee Island, Ontario, Canada , is an island in the western half of Lake Erie. Pelee Island is connected to the Canadian and United States mainland by ferry service. At , Pelee Island is the largest island in Lake Erie and the southernmost populated point in Canada. An Ontario Historical Plaque was erected by the province to commemorate the development of Pelee Island's role in Ontario's heritage. Nearby Middle Island is the southernmost point of land in Canada. Pelee Island is part of the Township of Pelee which has its own mayor, deputy mayor, and three councillors. It is a separated township, separate from Essex County. The township comprises nine islands, the largest being Pelee Island, and including Middle Island, Middle Sister Island, Hen Island, Big Chicken Island, Little Chicken Island, Chick Island, East Sister Island, and North Harbour Island. The total land area of all islands in the township is . Due to its southerly location and the moderating effect of Lake Erie, it has a slightly milder climate than inland areas.〔Wake, Winifred Cairns (1997). ''A Nature Guide to Ontario'', p. 47. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-2755-5.〕 Its climate is one of the mildest in Canada, and the island has long been used for vineyards and wine making. The wine industry was started here in 1860 and died out in the early twentieth century, but was restarted in the 1980s.〔Aspler, Tony (1999). ''Vintage Canada: The Complete Reference to Canadian Wines'', p. 68. McGraw-Hill Ryerson. ISBN 0-07-086043-2.〕 The island is an agricultural based community which grows about of soybeans, about of wheat, of grapes, and a few hectares of specialty corn. Pelee Island is part of an important flyway for migrating birds between Ohio, the Lake Erie islands and Point Pelee. Pelee Island has, for many years, hosted a fall pheasant hunt which attracts hunters from Canada, the United States and many other countries. The pheasant hunt brings tourist dollars to Pelee at a time of year when virtually no other activities are available thus generating important revenue in the 'off' season. ==Transport== The island is serviced by two ferries, the MV ''Jiimaan'' and the MV ''Pelee Islander'' (owned by Pelee Island Transportation Company, a subsidiary of the OSTC). The MV ''Jiimaan'' is the largest passenger ferry along the Lake Erie route to Pelee Island. At in length, the ''Jiimaan'' can transport 400 passengers and 40 vehicles. The leisurely cruise to Pelee Island can range from one-and-a-half to just over two hours depending on departure routes. The ferry service splits the season between Leamington and Kingsville on the Ontario mainland. Leaving from Leamington from early spring until August. The ferry then finishes the season (mid December) in nearby Kingsville. The ferry from Pelee Island To Sandusky, Ohio runs only from late spring until early fall, while the ''Jiimaan'' runs from the Canadian ports of Leamington and/or Kingsville from early spring until early December. The ''Jiimaan'' was built in 1992 at Port Weller Drydocks in St. Catharines, Ontario. When the ferries are not operating, the only practical way to get to the mainland or to Pelee Island is via airplane. In January 2004, a Cessna 208 Caravan crashed on takeoff from Pelee, killing 9 pheasant hunters and the pilot. The plane crashed into the shallow waters of Lake Erie. It is believed the plane was overloaded and potentially ice-laden according to the aviation authorities of Canada. The older MV ''Pelee Islander'', which continues to operate, carries 196 passengers and 14 vehicles. MV ''Upper Canada'', which serviced Pelee prior to ''Jiimaan'', was sent to Lake Huron (the Christian Island natives received her for transport to and from the mainland) when ''Jiimaan'' began service to Pelee. The ''Pelee Islander'' was built at Erieau, Ontario in 1960. A tender has been awarded to Asenav of Chile to build a replacement ferry〔https://ca.news.yahoo.com/pelee-island-40-million-ferry-194547971.html〕 that can carry 399 passengers and 34 vehicles. During the winter season (starting Dec. 11 until the start of the ferry the next year) Pelee Island Transportation Company operates an air service to the Pelee Island Airport from Windsor. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Pelee, Ontario」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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