Point Amour Lighthouse

The Point Amour Lighthouse is situated on the shore of Forteau Bay, within the Strait of Belle Isle, Labrador Peninsula, in southern Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The lighthouse can be accessed via New Trail 2023.

History

• Completed in 1857, the Point Amour Lighthouse was part of a series of four lighthouses built to facilitate safer passage for steamships traveling between Europe and the new world during the mid-19th century. This cylindrical tower is one of the Imperial Towers, a designation it holds as a Provincial Historic Site.
• The structure features a black band and is painted white. Local quarries provided the limestone used for its construction, while other materials such as timber and brick were shipped from Quebec to L’Anse au Loup.

Architecture

The limestone tower stands 109 feet (33m) tall, making it the tallest lighthouse in Atlantic Canada and the second-tallest in all of Canada. The structure features a black band and is painted white. Local quarries provided the limestone used for its construction, while other materials such as timber and brick were shipped from Quebec to L’Anse au Loup.

Light Characteristics

The Point Amour Lighthouse features a second-order Fresnel lens with a focal plane at 152 feet (46m) above sea level. The light characteristic is a period of light lasting 16 seconds, followed by an adjacent pause of 4 seconds. A fog signal may be sounded from a separate building.

Current Status

The lighthouse has been converted to an automated system since 1996. The residential part of the lighthouse, completed in 1857, now serves as a museum.

Heritage Status

Designated as a Provincial Historic Site, the Point Amour Lighthouse is recognized for its historical significance and architectural importance.

Notable Historical Events

The site was also home to a Marconi Station, with only the foundations surviving.