Low Point Lighthouse
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 Nova Scotia
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| Location | New Victoria, Nova Scotia |
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| Coordinates | 46°16′01.9″N 60°7′32.9″W / 46.267194°N 60.125806°WCoordinates: 46°16′01.9″N 60°7′32.9″W / 46.267194°N 60.125806°W |
| Year first constructed | 1832 (first) |
| Year first lit | 1938 (current) |
| Automated | 1988 |
| Construction | concrete tower (current) wooden tower (first) |
| Tower shape | octagonal frustum tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | white tower, red lantern |
| Height | 22 metres (72 ft) |
| Focal height | 26 metres (85 ft) |
| Original lens | third order double bullseye lens |
| Current lens | rotating 36" DCB-36 optic aerobeacon |
| Range | 18 nautical miles (33 km; 21 mi) |
| Characteristic |
Fl W 5s. |
| Fog signal | automated horn, two three-second blasts every 60 seconds. |
| Admiralty number | H0758 |
| CHS number | CCG 775 |
| NGA number | 9100 |
| ARLHS number | CAN-287 |
| Managing agent | Canadian Coast Guard |
Fl W 5s.
(flash 0.5 sec; eclipse 4.5 sec)
Low Point Lighthouse (also known as 'Flat Point Lighthouse') is a historic Canadian lighthouse marking the eastern entrance to Sydney Harbour at New Victoria, Nova Scotia, near New Waterford, Nova Scotia. This is one of the earliest and most important light stations of Nova Scotia, one of the first dozen beacons in Nova Scotia to be lit to guide mariners, a classic red-and-white lighthouse still operated by the Canadian Coast Guard.
This lighthouse and station are located on low lying, flat point of land that thrusts over 0.6 kilometres (0.37 mi) out into Spanish Bay. The point has been called both Low Point and Flat Point since at least 1882. The Lighthouse and Lightstation have been entered into the official lists of lights under either name, and often both. Locally, both names are still in common use. The name was formerly approved as Flat Point on June 1, 1909. It was changed to Low Point on October 1, 1953.
After 1826, the General Mining Association consolidated the various coal mines around Sydney Harbour and greatly increased the shipping of coal to ports on the Atlantic coast. In support of this effort, a lighthouse was built at Low Point in 1832 to aid vessels entering Sydney harbour. This first lighthouse was built at a cost of £770. The tower was octagonal, wooden, with its sides painted alternately red and white, 15.54 metres (51.0 ft) high, base to vane. During its first winter the lead roof was blown off in a heavy gale and the light was out until the lantern could be replaced with a new iron lantern. It was so exceedingly cold that the lightkeeper, Robert McNab, was forced to put pans of hot coals around the inside of the lantern to keep the light going; it was nearly impossible to keep up a flame from poor-grade oil when the temperature was minus 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. In 1856, McNab complained that there had been no repairs or improvements of any consequence in the 19 years of the light's operation. In particular, the tiny dwelling required considerable repair, and the light leading into the increasingly busy Sydney Harbour was considered to be inadequate. New lamps were supplied immediately, which did improve the light, but it was another seven years before a new octagonal iron lantern was installed, providing the room necessary for larger oil burners and reflectors.
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Wikipedia