Langara Light facts for kids
 Langara Point
Location in British Columbia
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| Location | Haida Gwaii British Columbia Canada |
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| Coordinates | 54°15′19.4″N 133°03′33.8″W / 54.255389°N 133.059389°W |
| Year first constructed | 1913 |
| Construction | concrete tower |
| Tower shape | hexagonal frustum six ribbed tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | white tower, red lantern |
| Height | 7.5 metres (25 ft) |
| Focal height | 49 metres (161 ft) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 5s. |
| Admiralty number | G5856 |
| CHS number | CCG 0807 |
| NGA number | 11376 |
| ARLHS number | CAN-269 |
The Langara Point Lighthouse is a tall, important building that helps ships find their way. It stands on a beautiful cliff at the northwest tip of Langara Island in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada. This lighthouse is still operated by people, unlike many others today. It is one of only two lighthouses in the entire Haida Gwaii area. Both were built a long time ago, in 1913.
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History of the Lighthouse
The Langara Point Lighthouse has an interesting past. During World War II, the lighthouse was painted a special camouflage green. This helped it blend in with the land. A radar station was also built here. This station watched over the North Pacific waters. It helped keep the coast safe.
The Powerful Light
The light used in the Langara Point Lighthouse is very special. It is called a Fresnel lens. This type of lens is the largest kind used in lighthouses. It was made by a company called Chance Brothers in England. This original lens is still working today! Each side of the lens is over 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall. It is also 5 feet (1.5 meters) wide. This huge lens helps the light shine very far.
Visiting the Lighthouse
The Langara Point Lighthouse is easy to spot from the water. You can even take tours to see it up close. Many visitors arrive by helicopter. Guests staying on Langara Island can enjoy a special tour. This tour usually lasts one to two hours. It includes a trip right up to the top of the light tower. You can also enjoy coffee or tea with the lightkeepers. These are the people who live and work at the lighthouse.
Watching the Ocean
The Langara Light is more than just a guide for ships. It is also part of a big science project. This project is called the British Columbia Shore Station Oceanographic Program. Since 1936, the lighthouse has helped collect important information. Every day, they measure the ocean's water temperature. They also check how salty the water is. This helps scientists understand our oceans better.
Lighthouse Keepers
Many dedicated people have worked as keepers at the Langara Point Lighthouse. They live at the lighthouse and make sure the light keeps shining. Here are some of the head keepers who have served there:
- James T. Forsyth (1913–1918)
- William J. Stinson (1918–1919)
- J. McCann (1919)
- George Armstrong (1919–1932)
- H. Greenwood (1932–1936)
- Gordon Odlum (1941–1942)
- William Norman Kinnear (1943–1945)
- Neil Lange (1945–1947)
- Richard Crawford (1948–1950)
- Otto Lindstrom (1950–1953)
- George Brown (1953–1957)
- Edward Albert Hartt (1957–1963)
- Wilf Redlac (1963–1964)
- Maurice Collette (1967–1971)
- Ken Wallace (1971–1973)
- Tom E. Carr (1973–1975)
- Charles Redhead (1975–1982)
- Edward J. Ashe (1982–1983)
- Kenneth Brunn (1983–1989)
- Warren Kennedy (1989–1992)
- Gordon Schweers (1992–2010)
- Stanley Westhaver (2010–present)
