Caribou Island Light

Last updated
Caribou Island Lighthouse
Caribouisland.jpg
Caribou Island, June 2009
Canada Ontario relief location map.jpg
Lighthouse icon centered.svg
Ontario
Location Caribou Island
Lake Superior
Ontario
Canada
Coordinates 47°20′23.1″N85°49′33.1″W / 47.339750°N 85.825861°W / 47.339750; -85.825861 Coordinates: 47°20′23.1″N85°49′33.1″W / 47.339750°N 85.825861°W / 47.339750; -85.825861 [1] [2]
Year first constructed 1886 (first)
Year first lit 1912 (current)
Automated mid-1970
Construction concrete tower
Tower shape hexagonal tapered tower with six flying buttresses, balcony and lantern
Markings / pattern white tower, red balcony and lantern
Height 31.5 metres (103 ft)
Focal height 30 metres (98 ft)
Original lens second order Fresnel lens by Chance Brothers
Light source solar power
Characteristic Fl W 15s.
CHS number CCG 1096
ARLHS number CAN-631
USCG number 7-16845
Managing agent Canadian Coast Guard [3]

Caribou Island lighthouse sits on an uninhabited island in the eastern end of Lake Superior, 22 miles (35 km) south of Michipicoten Island. It lies entirely within the territorial waters of Canada although only about three miles from the international border between Canada and the United States. It is approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) long and approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) wide.

Caribou Island island in Canada

Caribou Island is an uninhabited island in the eastern end of Lake Superior, 40 kilometres (25 mi) south of Michipicoten Island. It lies entirely within the territorial waters of Canada although only about five kilometres from the international border between Canada and the United States. It is approximately 5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi) long and 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi) wide, and 1,600 acres (647 ha) in area. The interior is low scrub and bog with small lakes, Little Italy, Hambone, and Deer Lake among many unnamed ones. Several of the lakes are maintained by beavers and all are several feet above Lake Superior.

Lighthouse structure designed to emit light to aid navigation

A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and to serve as a navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways.

Lake Superior largest of the Great Lakes of North America

Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes of North America, is also the world's largest freshwater lake by surface area, and the third largest freshwater lake by volume. The lake is shared by the Canadian province of Ontario to the north, the U.S. state of Minnesota to the west, and Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the south. The farthest north and west of the Great Lakes chain, Superior has the highest elevation of all five great lakes and drains into the St. Mary's River.

Contents

A dangerous reef stretches 1 mile (1.6 km) along the north and west shores of Caribou Island, and a shallow reef 2.5 miles (4.0 km) stretches beyond to the southwest to Caribou Island, lying only 11 feet (3.4 m) below the lake's surface. The unmanned lighthouse, which is owned by the Canadian Coast Guard, is located on a tiny adjacent island called Lighthouse Island a few hundred feet across and positioned 1 mile (1.6 km) west of the southern tip of the main island. When originally built, it was visible for 16 miles (26 km) and operated on a 30-second revolving cycle. [4] Caribou Island is about 55 km (34 mi) off Agawa Bay on the east shore of the lake.

History

The present light was built in 1912 (station established 1886), flashes white every 15 seconds and is 31.5 meters (103 feet) tall. It is a hexagonal concrete tower with six flying buttresses. The structure is painted white, while the lantern, gallery and watch room are red. All other structures have been demolished and all other buildings have been removed. The lighthouse is located on a small island southwest of Caribou Island itself and about 5 km (3.1 mi) north of the international border. It is only accessible by boat.

Keepers

See also

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