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George Island Lighthouse

Fl W 4s🇨🇦Manitoba, CAOperational

A white, square pyramidal steel skeletal tower stands 15.5 meters tall. Its lantern room is painted white and sits atop the red-painted tower. The light, situated 20 meters above the water, emits a white flash every four seconds. This structure was erected in 1906. It is located on George Island within the North Basin of Lake Winnipeg, approximately 400 km north of Winnipeg. The Canadian Coast Guard maintains the light.

Why it matters: This lighthouse was built to assist navigation in the North Basin and was the final lighthouse to be fully automated.

Background
George Island Light is a lighthouse located on George Island that lies in the middle of the North Basin of Lake Winnipeg in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It is located approximately 400 km (250 mi) north from Winnipeg, and approximately halfway between the shore communities of Grand Rapids and Poplar River. The lighthouse structure is 15.5 metres (51 ft) tall square pyramidal steel skeletal tower painted red, with enclosed lantern room on top, painted white. The lantern has a focal plane of 20 metres (66 ft) and it displays a white flash every four seconds visible in all directions. The light is maintained by the Canadian Coast Guard. The lighthouse was built in 1906 to aid navigation in the treacherous North Basin. It had a lighthouse keeper until 1981. The George Island Light was the last lighthouse to be fitted as a fully automatic light. The last lighthouse keeper, Mr. Willard Olson, served on George Island every year starting from 1951 until 1981.
Characteristic Signature
Fl W 4s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
White
Flash Count
1 flash
Interval
4s
Raw Code
Fl
Focal Height
20m
Geographic Range
9NM
Year Built
1906
Tower Height
15.5m
Tower Color
white
City
Manitoba
Country
🇨🇦CA
Latitude
52.8194°
Longitude
-97.6143°
Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
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How do mariners identify George Island Lighthouse at night?+
George Island displays the characteristic Fl W 4s — 1 white flash every 4 seconds. Each lighthouse has a unique flash pattern published in the List of Lights, allowing mariners to positively identify it and distinguish it from other navigation aids in the area.
Is George Island Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, George Island 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 George Island Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near George Island 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.