Mississagi Strait Lighthouse
Location & Light Range
About Mississagi Strait Lighthouse
A square pyramidal wood tower, 11.5 meters tall, was constructed and first lit in 1873 at the western tip of Manitoulin Island. The tower, painted white with red trim, features a lantern and gallery and is attached to a 1-1/2 story wood keeper's quarters. A diaphone fog horn was installed in 1908. The original light was moved to a skeletal tower in 1970, rendering the lighthouse inactive, but it was reactivated in May 2003. Local societies secured a lease in 1983 to save it from destruction, and restoration began in 2016. The lighthouse is located off ON 540, 11.6 nautical miles by geographic range.
Why it matters: The lighthouse marks the passage through the Mississagi Strait, connecting the North Channel and Lake Huron. Its diaphone fog horn, installed in 1908, is a notable piece of maritime technology, and the structure's preservation by community groups highlights its cultural significance.
Light & Optic
- Flash Type
- Occulting
- Light Color
- White
- Interval
- 4s
- Raw Code
- Oc W 4s
- Focal Height
- 14m
- Geographic Range
- 11.6NM
Construction & History
- Year Built
- 1873
Significant events: Built 1873, diaphone fog horn installed 1908, light moved to skeletal tower and lighthouse inactive 1970, saved from destruction by local societies and lease secured 1983, light returned and reactivated May 2003, reported in poor condition 2014, campground reopened 2015, restoration began September 2016, new 10-year lease signed December 2016, closed during Covid pandemic, did not reopen 2022 due to maintenance and lack of manager
References & Identifiers
- Nearest Port
- Meldrum Bay(5.1 km)
- ARLHS No.
- CAN-322
Tower & Structure
- Tower Height
- 11.5m
- Tower Shape
- square
- Tower Color
- white with red trim
- Material
- wood
Structure: square pyramidal wood tower with lantern and gallery, attached to 1-1/2 story wood keeper's quarters
Location
- City
- Unorganized West Manitoulin
- Country
- 🇨🇦Canada
- Region
- Ontario
- Sea Region
- Mississagi Strait separates Manitoulin Island from Cockburn Island and provides a passage between the North Channel and Lake Huron. Located at the western tip of Manitoulin Island and at the end of Mississagi Lighthouse Road, off ON 540.
- Latitude
- 45.8913°
- Longitude
- -83.2250°
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