 An 1855 chart showing White Head Island. | |
  White Head Island Location in the Bay of Fundy | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Bay of Fundy |
| Coordinates | 44°37′52.6″N66°42′28.63″W / 44.631278°N 66.7079528°W |
| Archipelago | Grand Manan Archipelago |
| Area | 6.17 km2 (2.38 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 59 m (194 ft) [1] |
| Administration | |
Canada | |
| Province | New Brunswick |
| County | Charlotte |
| Parish | Grand Manan Parish |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 162 (2011) [2] |
| Pop. density | 26.3/km2 (68.1/sq mi) |
| Long Point Lighthouse | |
 Long Point Lighthouse at the southern tip of White Head Island | |
| Constructed | 1966  |
| Foundation | concrete base |
| Construction | concrete tower |
| Height | 11 m (36 ft) |
| Shape | quadrangular tower with balcony and lantern rising from the fog signal building [3] |
| Markings | white tower, red lantern |
| Power source | solar power |
| Operator | Canadian Coast Guard [4] [5] |
| Fog signal | 2s. blast every 20s. |
| Focal height | 15.5 m (51 ft) |
| Range | 12 nmi (22 km; 14 mi) |
| Characteristic | Iso W 12s |
White Head Island is located east of Grand Manan in the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick. In 2011 the island had a population of 162. White Head Island was governed as a local service district [2] prior to the 2023 New Brunswick local governance reform.
Contents
For approximately four hours surrounding low tide, the island can be reached on-foot from Grand Manan walking across sandbars and ledges through shallow water. [6]
Its economy is based largely around aquaculture and fishing, historically through herring weirs. [7] [6] There is a series of very small islands marked on charts but typically not appearing on maps, west of White Head Island and north of Three Islands. [8]
The island has a two-classroom elementary school, and older students take a ferry to Grand Manan Community School. From 1976-2012, the island was serviced by the MV Lady White Head, until it was replaced by Coastal Transport Limited's William Frankland car ferry between White Head and Grand Manan. [9] [10]
Until 2022 the community had a small general store.
There is a Baptist church on the island that was completed in 1981. However, there are records of a religious house in use until 1928, when the second of three churches was dedicated. [11]
There are 5km of paved roads circling the northern half of the island, while the southern portion has only gravel roads that are less accessible. [12]
