Sambro Island Light, Federal heritage lighthouse at Halifax Harbour entrance, Canada
Sambro Island Light is a stone lighthouse standing at the entrance to Halifax Harbour in Canada. The octagonal structure has a white exterior marked with three red horizontal stripes and stands about 82 feet (25 m) tall on a rocky island.
Construction began in 1758 after Nova Scotia's legislature passed a tax on incoming vessels to fund the project. The lighthouse began operation in 1759 and has operated continuously ever since, becoming one of North America's oldest active beacons.
For people in Halifax, this lighthouse represents the maritime foundation of their city and appears on postcards and local maps as a symbol of the harbour. Fishermen and sailors have long used it as a landmark to find their way through these waters.
The island itself has limited public access, so the best views come from the water or nearby coastal viewpoints around Halifax Harbour. Boat tours from the harbour often pass by the lighthouse, giving visitors a close look at the tower and its distinctive markings.
This lighthouse ranks among the oldest continuously operating beacons in the Americas, having guided ships without interruption since it first lit up. Its long service record offers a window into how maritime safety has evolved over more than two centuries in this region.
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