 The Mama Juda Lighthouse from a 1910 postcard | |
  Mamajuda Island  Mamajuda Island | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Detroit River |
| Coordinates | 42°11′32″N83°08′10″W / 42.19222°N 83.13611°W /42.19222; -83.13611 |
| Administration | |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Wayne County |
| Township | Grosse Ile Township |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Mamajuda Island/mɑːməˈdʒuːdə/, sometimes identified asMama Juda Island, was anAmerican island in theDetroit River. It is located just east of the northern tip ofGrosse Ile (Hennepin Point) and about 500 feet (152 m) west of theCanada–United States border. The island is part ofGrosse Ile Township inWayne County,Michigan.[1] It is the smallest of all chartedislands in the Detroit River.
The former 30-acre (12 ha) island has since been lost toerosion. Only a very small portion of it, consisting of a few boulders, appears above water during times of low water levels.[2] Because of that, the island has no definitive size and cannot be used for any purposes. The island does not appear on many maps anymore, but it can be seen on some of the most preciseonline maps.[3] The island is part of the much larger Mamajuda Island Shoal, which runs along the east coast of Grosse Ile. Theshoal is about 3–8 feet (0.9–2.4 m) beneath the surface and runs all the way toGrassy Island.[4] The area, including Mamajuda Island, has since become part of theDetroit River International Wildlife Refuge.[5]
The island was originally named after anAmerican Indian woman who regularly camped on the island during fishing season.[2] In 1849, the Mama Juda Lighthouse was built on the island, and the lighthouse keeper and his family were the island's only inhabitants. The lighthouse itself was rebuilt in 1866.[6] However, the loose composition of the island was subject to slow erosion that eventually washed away the lighthouse in 1950. The whole island itself disappeared by 1960, and only a few boulders from the former island periodically protrude above the surface.[2] However, because of the underlying shoal, the area can pose a hazard for boating in the area, especially for largelake freighters that regularly travel within close proximity.
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