Point Amour Lighthouse facts for kids
| Location | L'Anse Amour Newfoundland and Labrador Canada |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°27′38″N 56°51′30″W / 51.46049°N 56.85835°W |
| Year first constructed | 1854-1858 |
| Automated | 1960s |
| Construction | limestone covered with brick and clapboard tower |
| Tower shape | cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | white tower with a horizontal black band, red dome |
| Height | 125 feet |
| Focal height | 46 metres (151 ft) |
| Range | 18 nautical miles |
| Characteristic | Fl W 20s. |
| Fog signal | 1 blast every 30s. |
The Point Amour Lighthouse is a famous lighthouse found on Point Amour in southern Labrador, Canada. It is very close to L'Anse Amour. This tall lighthouse was finished in 1857. It is the tallest lighthouse in all of Atlantic Canada. It is also the second tallest lighthouse in the entire country of Canada. The lighthouse stands an impressive 109 feet (33 meters) tall.
Contents
Why Was Point Amour Lighthouse Built?
The Point Amour Lighthouse was one of four lighthouses built in the 1850s. These lighthouses were very important for safety. They helped guide the many steamships traveling between Europe and the New World. The lighthouse has a round tower. It is made from strong limestone and painted white with a black stripe. The limestone came from nearby quarries. Other building materials, like wood and bricks, were harder to get. They had to be shipped from Quebec to L’Anse au Loup. From there, they were brought four miles to the lighthouse site.
The Point Amour Lighthouse is part of a special group called the Imperial Towers. It is now a Provincial Historic Site. This means it is a very important historical place. The part of the lighthouse where people used to live has been updated. It is now a museum that you can visit. There was also once a Marconi Station here. This was a place for sending radio messages. Only the old foundations of that station remain today.
How Does the Lighthouse Work?
The lighthouse uses a special second order Fresnel lens. This lens helps make the light very bright and focused. The light shines from about 152 feet (46 meters) above sea level. In 1996, the lighthouse became automatic. This means machines now control the light, not people. The light flashes for 16 seconds and then pauses for 4 seconds. There is also a fog signal. This signal makes a loud sound from a separate building. It helps ships find their way when it is foggy.
Who Were the Lighthouse Keepers?
For many years, people called lighthouse keepers lived and worked at Point Amour. Their job was to make sure the light was always shining. They also had to make sure the fog signal worked. This was a very important job for keeping ships safe. Here is a list of the people who were lighthouse keepers at Point Amour:
| Lightkeepers | Time |
|---|---|
| John Blampied | 1857-1869 |
| Pierre Godier | 1869-1879 |
| Matthew Wyatt | 1879-1889 |
| Thomas Wyatt | 1889-1919 |
| Jeff Wyatt | 1919-1963 |
| Milton Elliott | 1963-1969 |
| Max Sheppard | 1969-1995 |
In the 1960s, the lighthouse became automated. This meant that lighthouse keepers were no longer needed to live there.
See also
- List of lighthouses in Newfoundland and Labrador
- List of lighthouses in Canada
