Panmure Island (Prince Edward Island) facts for kids
Location in PEI
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Geography | |
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Location | Northumberland Strait |
Coordinates | 46°08′31″N 62°28′59″W / 46.14194°N 62.48306°W |
Area | 323.75 ha (800.0 acres) |
Administration | |
Canada
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Province | Prince Edward Island |
County | Kings |
Township | Lot 61 |
Additional information | |
Time zone |
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• Summer (DST) |
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Panmure Island is a small island located off the east coast of Prince Edward Island in Canada. It's made of red sandstone and has beautiful sand beaches. This island is about 800 acres (323.75 hectares) in size and is found in Kings County.
The island is about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) away from the nearest point on Prince Edward Island.
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Discover Panmure Island
Panmure Island is a unique spot, known for its natural beauty and interesting history. It's a great place to explore if you love beaches and learning about the past.
A Glimpse into History
The very first people to visit Panmure Island were the Micmac First Nations. They would come to the island during the summer months to gather seafood like clams, mussels, and quahaugs.
The first people to live on the island all year round were settlers from Scotland. It's believed that Andrew MacDonald and his family were the first to arrive in 1805. A cemetery was set up on the island in 1813, which is still there today. Later, a school was built on the island in 1897 for $150. In its first year, it had seven students.
The Causeway and Park
For a long time, Panmure Island was connected to Prince Edward Island by sand bars that you could cross when the tide was low. But in the 1960s, a special road called a causeway was built. This causeway now connects the island to the mainland, making it easy to visit anytime.
Building the causeway also created a large area of barrier beach and sand dunes. This natural area is now protected as Panmure Island Provincial Park. It's important to know that this park is actually along the causeway, not directly on Panmure Island itself. In recent years, the causeway has faced challenges from strong waves and rising sea levels. The government has spent a lot of money to keep this important connection safe.
Panmure Island Lighthouse
One of the most famous landmarks on Panmure Island is its lighthouse. It's the oldest wooden lighthouse on Prince Edward Island! This historic lighthouse was built in 1853 and stands about 18 meters (59 feet) tall.
The lighthouse has special gabled windows and four stories. A bright warning light sits at the very top. It's located on the northeast shore of the island and helps guide ships, warning them about dangerous shallow areas that have caused shipwrecks in the past. If you visit in the summer, you can often take tours inside the lighthouse.
The Community of Panmure Island
The island is also home to a small community that shares its name: Panmure Island. The community gets its name directly from the island it's located on.
Images for kids
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A Haflinger horse near Panmure Head Lighthouse