Galop Island
{{Short description|Island in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox islands
| name = Galop Island
| image_name =
| image_size =
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| map = New York
| map_alt =
| map_width = 250px
| map_caption = Location of Galop Island in New York State
| map_relief =
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| coordinates = {{coord|44.7653|-75.4005|type:isle_region:US-NY|format=dms|display=title,inline}}
| etymology =
| location = St. Lawrence River
| waterbody =
| area_acre = 675
| length_mi =
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| elevation_ft = 289
| elevation_footnotes = {{cite GNIS|976338|Galop Island|February 13, 2015}}
| country = United States
| country_admin_divisions_title = State
| country_admin_divisions = New York
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = County
| country_admin_divisions_1 = St. Lawrence
| country_admin_divisions_title_2 = Town
| country_admin_divisions_2 = Lisbon
| country_admin_divisions_title_3 = Owner
| country_admin_divisions_3 = New York Power Authority
| website =
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}}
Galop Island is an uninhabited island in the Saint Lawrence River located in St. Lawrence County, northeast of Ogdensburg, New York. The {{convert|675|acre|km2|adj=on}} island is owned by the New York Power Authority and managed by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation as the undeveloped Galop Island State Park.{{cite web |url=http://www.dos.ny.gov/opd/programs/consistency/Habitats/GreatLakes/Galop_Island_Pools.pdf |title=Galop Island Pools Coastal Fish & Wildlife Habitat Assessment Form |publisher=NYS Department of State |date=May 15, 1994 |access-date=February 13, 2016}}
Galop Island has historically been known by a variety of names, including Isle Aux Galloup, Gallou Island, Butternut Island, Dillingham Island, Dixon Island, Lalone Island, Lotus Island, Round Island, Sears Island, Tick Island, and Twin Island.{{cite book |editor1-last=Curtis |editor1-first=Gates |title=Our County and its People - A Memorial Record of St. Lawrence County, New York |date=1894 |publisher=The Boston History Company |page=321 |url=https://archive.org/stream/ourcountyitspeop00curt#page/n359/mode/2up |access-date=February 13, 2016 |chapter=The Town of Lisbon}}
Wildlife habitat
The island contains a mixture of shrubs, open areas and mature forests.{{cite web |url=http://www.dos.ny.gov/opd/programs/consistency/Habitats/GreatLakes/Galop_Island_Bays.pdf |title=Galop Island Bays Coastal Fish & Wildlife Habitat Assessment Form |publisher=NYS Department of State |date=May 15, 1994 |access-date=February 13, 2016}} It is a known wintering area for bald eagles. A nearby area of the Saint Lawrence River, known as the Galop Island Pools, remains free of ice during the winter due to strong river currents and turbulence. The approximately {{convert|1800|acre|km2}} of open water is utilized by eagles and other migratory birds as a winter food source. The availability of open water during the winter is limited within the region; only three other areas within the Saint Lawrence River remain similarly free of ice.
Approximately {{convert|1000|acre|km2}} of shallow bays along the river channel south of the island include spawning habitat for muskellunge, causing the area to be a regionally important sport fishing destination. The large, protected, shallow bays with variable water velocities found offshore from Galop Island are rare within the region. The bays additionally support migratory waterfowl during the spring and fall, and additional fish species, including brown bullhead, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch, are abundant.
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Protected areas of New York}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Protected areas of St. Lawrence County, New York
Category:Islands of New York (state)
Category:Islands of St. Lawrence County, New York
Category:Islands of the Saint Lawrence River
Category:Uninhabited islands of New York (state)
Category:River islands of New York (state)
Category:Parks in St. Lawrence County, New York
Category:State parks of New York (state)
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