Louisbourg Lighthouse, Federal heritage lighthouse in Cape Breton, Canada
Louisbourg Lighthouse is an octagonal concrete tower rising 17 meters above the coastline with a white exterior. It reaches a focal height of 32 meters above sea level and operates automatically to guide vessels safely into the harbor.
The first lighthouse at this site was built in 1734 and marked the beginning of lighthouse operations in Canada. The current structure dates to 1923 and represents a later replacement for earlier towers that guided ships for generations.
The site held military importance during colonial conflicts as a defensive gun position for the harbor. Visitors can still sense how this location guarded the entrance to the settlement.
The tower has operated automatically since 1990 and produces a characteristic flash visible across the Atlantic waters for about 16 nautical miles. Visitors should expect the location to look especially dramatic during rough seas or stormy weather.
Four different lighthouses have stood at this location throughout history, and the foundations of earlier structures remain visible on the ground. These layers of the past reveal how crucial navigation was for the harbor across centuries.
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