Point Riche Lighthouse, Federal heritage lighthouse in Port au Choix, Canada
Point Riche Lighthouse is a wooden structure in Port au Choix featuring a hexagonal red lantern room mounted on a white square tower. The building sits on a rocky headland surrounded by water, making it a clear landmark for boats approaching the harbor.
The lighthouse was built in 1871 and equipped with twelve burner lamps to guide steamships through waters connecting the St. Lawrence to Atlantic routes. A Fresnel lens added in 1908 improved the light's reach and required structural reinforcement of the building.
The lighthouse marks where ancient Dorset and Groswater peoples once lived, with archaeological sites now preserved as part of Port au Choix National Historic Site. These settlements show how indigenous communities used this coastal area for thousands of years.
The lighthouse can be visited from the shore, but access varies depending on tidal conditions and weather. Wear sturdy footwear as the terrain around the headland is uneven and often slippery.
The lighthouse received a sophisticated Fresnel lens in 1908 that still impresses visitors when considering how the light technology worked. This optical system was an engineering breakthrough that allowed the beacon to be seen from much greater distances at sea.
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