His transportation network moved smuggled liquor from the rum-runners of the East Coast, The Purple Gang in Detroit, who brought liquor in from Canada, with help from Belle River native Blaise Diesbourg, also known as " King Canada ," and local production which came from Midwestern moonshine operations and illegal breweries.

Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, have, since the 1950s, celebrated both Dominion or Canada Day and the United States ' Independence Day with the International Freedom Festival ; a massive fireworks display over the Detroit River, the strait separating the two cities, is held annually with hundreds of thousands of spectators attending.

About this time, an organization called the " Thistle Club " was founded and, curling being a winter sport, was played when the ice was suitable on the Detroit River at the foot of Joseph Campau ; on the bay ; and at the old Recreation Park.

Hiram Walker's distillery in Windsor, Ontario, directly across the Detroit River from Detroit, Michigan, easily served bootleggers using small, fast smuggling boats.

The Detroit River is a river in the Great Lakes system.

The Detroit River has served an important role in the history of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world.

When Detroit underwent rapid industrialization at the turn of the 20th century, the Detroit River became notoriously polluted and toxic.

There are numerous islands in the Detroit River, and much of the lower portion of the river is incorporated into the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.

The Detroit River is designated an American Heritage River and a Canadian Heritage River — the only river to have this dual designation.

The Detroit River flows for from Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie.

However, today, the Detroit River is rarely referred to as a strait, because bodies of water referred to as straits are typically much wider.

The Detroit River is only wide.

The Detroit River starts on an east to west flow but then bends and runs north to south.

The deepest portion of the Detroit River is deep in the northern portion of the river.

The watershed basin for the Detroit River is approximately.

Its largest tributary is the River Rouge in Michigan, which is actually four times longer than the Detroit River and contains most of the basin.

and the International Freedom Festival in Detroit, June 29 thru July 4.

At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan in 2003, Aston Martin introduced the AMV8 Vantage concept car.

The portion of the river in the city of Detroit has been organized into the Detroit International Riverfront and the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor.

Much of the lower portion of the river ( List of islands in the Detroit River # Mud Island | Mud Island pictured ) is now part of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.

In 2001, the Wyandotte National Wildlife Refuge was absorbed into the much larger Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, which is a cooperative effort between the United States and Canada to preserve the area as an ecological refuge.

Popular river destinations in the city of Detroit include the Detroit International Riverfront and Belle Isle Park — both of which host a number of events throughout the year.

The Detroit River International Crossing is a new bridge project expected to be completed in approximately 2013 ; it will directly connect Highway 401 in Canada to Interstate 75 in the U. S.

The North American version debuted at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo.

Teaching organizations include the European Board of Urology, as well as the Vattikuti Urology Institute in Detroit, which also hosts an annual International Robotic Urology Symposium devoted to new technologies.

* January 21 – Kiwanis International is founded in Detroit, Michigan.

In 1916 the " Detroit " IWW in Australia followed the lead of the US body and renamed itself the Workers ' International Industrial Union.

As an example, new affiliates WDJT in Milwaukee and WGNX in Atlanta — both cities that are home to NASCAR races — and WWJ in Detroit, close to Michigan International Speedway, were on the UHF band ( channels 14 – 69 ), meaning that they had a significantly reduced broadcast area compared to former affiliates WITI, WAGA-TV, and WJBK, respectively.

In June 1939, the International Olympic Committee ( IOC ) awarded the 1944 Olympic Summer Games to London, ahead of Rome, Detroit, Budapest, Lausanne, Helsinki, Montreal and Athens.

The Hyundai Blue Will plug-in hybrid has made its U. S. debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit 2010.

File: Biggest indoor waterfall. jpg | An indoor waterfall at the International Center, in Detroit.

The largest of these is in the lobby of the International Center, in Detroit.

Along with the sale, the Lightning picked up a new top minor league affiliate ; Davidson also owned the Detroit Vipers of the now-defunct International Hockey League.

* Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge ( part )

Calf Island is owned by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a part of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.

The Eagle Island Marsh is part of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.

The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is also under its management, until a permanent staff is hired.

The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, and an extensive network of recreational trails built under the Downriver Linked Greenways Initiative are two environmental conservation and recreation projects in the region.

These include the first international refuge between the United States and Canada, the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.

The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is the only international wildlife refuge in North America.

The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge consists primarily of coastal wetlands, several islands in the Detroit River, and waterfront parks.

In 2001, the Wyandotte National Wildlife Refuge was absorbed into the much larger Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, which was largely advocated by veteran Michigan representative John Dingell.

The refuge was officially signed into law as the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Establishment Act ( H. R.

The Congressional Budget Office originally estimated that the creation of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge would cost between $ 13 – 21 million over the first five years, in which the majority of the money spent would be through land acquisitions.

At its inception, the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge included only areas that were part of the former Wyandotte National Wildlife Refuge.

Other areas in Lake Erie extending as far south as the Michigan – Ohio border were eventually included into the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.

This was a major milestone for the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.