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Pictou Bar Lighthouse

Fl White 4s🇨🇦Arisaig, CAOperational

Also known as: #Pictou Bar (Lighthouse Beach)

An octagonal pyramidal wood tower, 11.5 meters tall, was constructed in 1903 to mark the entrance to Pictou Harbour. This replacement structure followed an earlier light established in 1834. The tower was painted white with red vertical striping and topped with a red lantern. Its light produced a single white flash every 4 seconds, visible for 10 nautical miles. This lighthouse was destroyed by fire in May 1903 and again in July 2004. Although a restoration committee formed after the 2004 fire, the lighthouse was not rebuilt.

Why it matters: Heritage Canada recognized the loss of this structure in 2004 as one of the year's five worst historic structure losses.

Characteristic Signature
Fl White 4s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
White
Interval
4s
Raw Code
Fl W 4s
Focal Height
9m
Geographic Range
10NM
Year Built
1903
First Lit
1834

Significant events: destroyed by fire in May 1903, destroyed by fire in 2004, Heritage Canada recognized loss as one of five worst historic structure losses of 2004

Nearest Port
Beach Point(20.2 km)
Admiralty No.
H1248.
NGA No.
8616
ARLHS No.
CAN-377
Tower Height
11.5m
Tower Shape
octagonal
Tower Color
white with red vertical striping and a red lantern
Material
wood

Structure: octagonal pyramidal wood tower, painted white with red vertical striping and a red lantern

City
Arisaig
Country
🇨🇦Canada
Region
Nova Scotia
Sea Region
at the end of the spit on the east side of the entrance to Pictou
Latitude
45.7619°
Longitude
-62.1722°
Flag
Type
Name
Dist.
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How do mariners identify Pictou Bar Lighthouse at night?+
Pictou Bar displays the characteristic Fl White 4s. 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 Pictou Bar Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Pictou Bar Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is Merigomish at 13.5 NM to the SW. Other ports served include Beach Point (20.1 NM NW), Pictou (23.5 NM WSW), Georgetown (29.1 NM NNW), Montague (31.3 NM NW). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Pictou Bar Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Pictou Bar 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 Pictou Bar Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Pictou Bar 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.