Cape Forchu Lighthouse
 Cape Forchu Lighthouse | |
 | |
| Location | Cape Forchu Nova Scotia Canada |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 43°48′25″N 66°09′30″W / 43.8069°N 66.1583°W |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1839 (first) |
| Construction | reinforced concrete tower |
| Height | 27.7 metres (91 ft)* (first) 30 metres (98 ft)* (current) |
| Shape | hexagonal prism tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings | tower with white and red vertical stripes, red balcony and lantern |
| Operator | Cape Forch Lightstation[1][2] |
| Heritage | Municipally Registered Property, provincially registered property  |
| Light | |
| First lit | 1962 (current) |
| Focal height | 38.4 metres (126 ft)* (first) 35 metres (115 ft)* (current) |
| Lens | second order Fresnel lens |
| Intensity | 1,000,000 candela |
| Range | 30 nautical miles (56 km; 35 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 14s. |
The Cape Forchu Lighthouse is located in Cape Forchu, Nova Scotia. The lighthouse is located 11 km from Yarmouth.[3]
History
The lighthouse was constructed in 1839 and was operational in 1840.[4] The original station was demolished in 1961 and replaced in 1962 with the "apple core" - a concrete tower. Since 2000, the original fresnel lens used at the lighthouse is located at the Yarmouth County Museum.
The Friends of the Yarmouth Light Society operate a museum in the lighthouse keeper’s house with exhibits about the lighthouse and local history. The surrounding 19 acres of rocky headland are protected as a park.
It was the first operating light station in Canadian history to be transferred to a municipality from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans through the Alternative Use Program on June 1, 2000. In exchange for the delivery of services it was transferred to the municipality for 1 dollar. In 2003 it became a registered Heritage property of Nova Scotia.[5]
Current Day
The 19 acers of ground the lighthouse is on is open to the public from May to September. The light keepers house is a Heritage property that is open during this time and has information about the history of the light the area and those in the area. There is also the option of a guided tour.[6]
See also
References
- ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Canada: Southern Nova Scotia". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
- ^ The Friends of the Yarmouth Light Society Archived March 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Cape Forchu Lighthouse". Tourism Nova Scotia. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-02. Retrieved 2012-02-29.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) History of the Light Station - ^ "Lighthouse | History - Yarmouth, NS". www.capeforchulight.com. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
- ^ "Cape Forchu Lighthouse". Tourism Nova Scotia. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
External links
- Aids to Navigation Canadian Coast Guard
- Official website for Cape Forchu Lightstation
- Cape Forchu info from Yarmouth.org
- Cape Forchu Lighthouse info from Lorneslights.com
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