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Otter Island Lighthouse

Fl White 8s🇨🇦Unorganized Thunder Bay District, CAOperational

Location & Light Range

About Otter Island Lighthouse

The Otter Island Lighthouse was built in 1903 on a small island off the northern shore of Lake Superior. The lighthouse is an octagonal pyramidal concrete structure, 6.5 meters high, painted white with a red lantern room. Its light is white, flashing once every 8 seconds (Fl W 8s), from a focal height of 29.5 meters. The light's range is 15.2 nautical miles. While the island site is open to the public, the tower is not. Marathon is the closest port, situated 39 kilometers away.

Why it matters: This lighthouse marks the entrance to a difficult, sparsely populated part of Lake Superior's shoreline. It serves as a primary navigation aid in an area with limited other references.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Fl White 8s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
White
Interval
8s
Raw Code
Fl W 8s
Focal Height
29.5m
Geographic Range
15.2NM

Construction & History

Year Built
1903

Visiting

Open to public
Site open, tower closed

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.

Tower & Structure

Tower Height
6.5m
Tower Shape
octagonal
Tower Color
white
Material
concrete

Structure: octagonal pyramidal concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern is red

Location

City
Unorganized Thunder Bay District
Country
🇨🇦Canada
Region
Ontario
Sea Region
small island off the most remote section of the Lake Superior lakeshore
Latitude
48.1117°
Longitude
-86.0669°

References & Identifiers

Nearest Port
Marathon(39.0 km)
ARLHS No.
CAN-582
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do mariners identify Otter Island Lighthouse at night?+
Otter Island displays the characteristic Fl White 8s. 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. The white color may indicate a specific sector or warning zone.
Which ports and harbors does Otter Island Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Otter Island Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 1 nearby port. The closest is Michipicoten at 47.6 NM to the E. Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Otter Island Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Otter 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 Otter Island Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Otter 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.