Entrance Island (British Columbia)

Entrance Island is a small rocky island in the Strait of Georgia, 841 metres (2,759 ft) due north of Gabriola Island. Marine mammals such as harbour seals and Steller's sea lions use it as a haul-out.

Entrance Island, BC

Entrance Island Lighthouse

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Entrance Island Lighthouse
 
Entrance Island Light off Gabriola Island, Georgia Strait, British Columbia
 
LocationGabriola Island
Strait of Georgia
British Columbia
Canada
Coordinates49°12′33″N 123°48′29″W / 49.209214°N 123.808105°W / 49.209214; -123.808105
Tower
Constructed1986 (first)
Constructionconcrete tower (current)
wooden tower (first)
Height14 metres (46 ft)
Shapecylindrical tower with balcony and lantern (current)
square tower
Markingswhite tower, red balcony and lantern
Power sourcesolar power  
OperatorCanadian Coast Guard [1]
Heritageheritage lighthouse  
Light
First lit1970 (current)
Focal height19 metres (62 ft)
Range15 nmi (28 km; 17 mi)  
CharacteristicFl W 5s.

The Entrance Island Lighthouse is a manned light station. It was built in 1875 to guide ships into Nanaimo harbour from the Strait of Georgia, and is easily seen from the Horseshoe Bay to Departure Bay ferry. The Tsawwassen to Duke Point ferry passes right by it.[2]

Oceanographic research

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The Entrance Island Lighthouse is one of 12 lighthouses part of the British Columbia Shore Station Oceanographic Program, collecting coastal water temperature and salinity measurements everyday since 1936.[3] Their data show an increase in coastal water temperatures of 0.15 °C per decade. This trend is believed to be a result of anthropogenic climate change.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Canada: Southern British Columbia". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  2. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Canada: Southern British Columbia". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  3. ^ Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2019-03-21). "Data from BC lightstations". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  4. ^ "Canada's Changing Climate Report (CCCR)". 2019. p. 358. Retrieved 2021-02-10. There is only a 1% possibility that the trend is due to chance
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