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Burlington Canal Main Lighthouse

🇨🇦Hamilton, CAOperational

Location & Light Range

About Burlington Canal Main Lighthouse

Also known as: Burlington Canal Main (Burlington Canal Range Rear)

The Burlington Canal Main Lighthouse, a cylindrical stone tower 17 meters high, was built in 1858. It has remained unpainted, with its lantern painted a rusty brown. Although the lighthouse was first lit in 1837, it ceased operations in 1961. Since then, preservation efforts have been ongoing, with the Beach Canal Lighthouse Group organizing in 2003 to advocate for its future. Subsequent years saw studies, funding agreements for planning, and the replacement of the keeper's cottage roof. Ownership was transferred to the Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority in January 2022, with plans for relocation and restoration.

Why it matters: This lighthouse is significant for guiding vessels through the Burlington Canal, a key navigational passage, and its builder, John Brown, also constructed the Imperial Towers of Lake Huron.

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
17m
Tower Shape
cylindrical
Tower Color
unpainted, lantern rusty brown
Material
stone

Structure: round stone tower with lantern and gallery, unpainted; lantern is a rusty brown

Location

City
Hamilton
Country
🇨🇦Canada
Region
Ontario
Sea Region
Burlington Canal
Latitude
43.2984°
Longitude
-79.7952°

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.

Construction & History

Year Built
1858
First Lit
1837

Significant events: Inactive since 1961, Beach Canal Lighthouse Group organized late 2003, engineers studied tower September 2004, City of Hamilton agreed to provide $50,000 for detailed planning October 2007, city rejected plan to acquire lighthouse December 2011, group submitted business plan 2013, group replaced roof of keeper's cottage 2014, Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) proposed to take ownership summer 2017, Department announced plan to transfer light station to HOPA June 2021, transfer took place January 2022

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Hamilton(0.9 km)
ARLHS No.
CAN-063
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which ports and harbors does Burlington Canal Main Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Burlington Canal Main Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Hamilton at 3.8 NM to the SW. Other ports served include Stoney Creek (6 NM SE), FIFTY POINT (8.8 NM ESE), Oakville (9.9 NM NE), FORAN'S MARINE (12.1 NM ESE). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Burlington Canal Main Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Burlington Canal Main Lighthouse is currently operational. It is actively maintained and continues to emit its characteristic light signal for marine navigation. Most modern lighthouses are automated and monitored remotely by the national maritime authority.
How can I track vessels near Burlington Canal Main Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Burlington Canal Main Lighthouse in real time using MarineRadar. The platform shows live AIS positions of ships in the area, including vessel name, type, flag, speed, and course. Use the "Track Vessels Nearby" button on this page to open the live map centered on this lighthouse.