Wellesley Island

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Cove on Wellesley Island, showing smaller island with residence

Wellesley Island (formerly Wells Island) is an island in the St. Lawrence River at the international boundary of the United States of America and Canada. It is one of the larger islands included in the Thousand Islands, and connects two portions of the Thousand Islands Bridge. Wellesley Island is home to few full-time residents, though its population increases dramatically during the summer months when vacationers from down-state visit their summer homes on the island.

The island is in Jefferson County, New York. Part of Wellesley Island lies in the Town of Orleans and the other part is in the Town of Alexandria, though neither town is actually centered on the island.

1 Geography
2 Geographic features
3 Communities on the Island
4 Parks on the island

[edit] Geography

The island is located 44°19′N 76°00′W at the western end of the St. Lawrence River. The southeast peninsula of the island is separated from the Village of Alexandria Bay by the Upper (American) Narrows.

Wellesley Island is known for housing the Lake of the Isles, which lies at the heart of the island, and is connected to the St. Lawrence River in two locations. This interior lake nearly doubles the waterfront property on the island, and consequently, the number of residences.

Wellesley Island is traversed by Interstate Highway 81 to the Canadian Port of Entry located on the northeastern part of the island, adjacent to the Thousand Islands International Bridge, connecting the United States and Canada. Routes 100 and 191 also are on the island.

[edit] Geographic features

Upper (American) Narrows -- the branch of the St. Lawrence River passing to the south of Wellesley Island.
Barnett Marsh -- A swamp in the south part of the island.
Crow Island -- a small island off the north shore.
Densmore Bay -- A bay on the south shore of the southeast peninsula.
Eel Bay -- A large bay between Wellesley Island and Grindstone Island.
Grenell Island -- A smaller island southwest of Wellesley Island.
Lake of the Isles -- A body of water connected to the St. Lawrence River, lying between the northeast and southeast peninsulas.
Manhattan Group -- A cluster of small islands northeast of Wellesley Island.
Murray Isle -- A smaller island southwest of Wellesley Island, separated by a passage known as the Narrows (not to be confused with the Upper Narrows).
South Bay -- A bay on the southeast part of the island.