Elbert Little, age 11, of Hamilton, Ohio, for his question:

HOW MANY ISLANDS ARE IN THE THOUSAND ISLANDS GROUP?

In the Saint Lawrence River, in a 40 mile stretch as it leave    /     's

Lake Ontario, you'll find the famous Thousand Islands group. Actually, no complete count has ever been made of the number of islands some are only small points of rock above

the water. But at least 1,700 islands make up the Thousand Islands group.

The islands are formed where the Saint Lawrence flows over the low hills of the Canadian Shield, which extends southeast into New York.

The rocky islands in the gorup are noted for their beautiful scenery and mild summer climate. Many have popular public summer resorts. Many have luxurious private summer homes.

Seventeen of the islands are included in the Saint Lawrence Islands National Park. The Park has been made into a recreational center and game preserve.

The Thousand Islands International Bridge, extending about six and a half miles in length, spans some of the islands. It was completed in 1938.