Bunker's Island, Nova Scotia facts for kids
Bunker's Island is a piece of land that sticks out into the water, like a small arm, in Yarmouth Harbour. This harbour is located in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, Canada. On Bunker's Island, you'll find a cool lighthouse that locals call "Bug Light." For many years, there were also large oil tanks and a dock belonging to Irving Oil on the island. However, these oil tanks were taken away in 2017.
Discover Bug Light: Yarmouth's Special Lighthouse
Bug Light is a small, unique lighthouse. It stands on a special type of foundation called a caisson, which is like a strong, watertight box. You can actually walk to Bug Light from Bunker's Island when the ocean tide is low.
This lighthouse was first built in 1874. It was meant to help the main Cape Forchu Lighthouse guide ships safely into the harbour. The lighthouse you see today is not the original one. The first building had living spaces for a lighthouse keeper, as you can see in older photos.
How Bug Light Changed Over Time
The lighthouse was rebuilt and updated in 1959. This new version doesn't need anyone to live there anymore; it's "unmanned." The last family to live in the lighthouse was the Cottreau family. When the lighthouse was rebuilt, they moved into a new home on Bunker's Island itself.
Did you know there are other lighthouses also called "Bug Light"? You can find them in Orient, New York and South Portland, Maine.
