Baccalieu Island Explained

Baccalieu Island
Map:Canada Newfoundland and Labrador
Pushpin Relief:yes
Coordinates:48.1303°N -52.8014°W
Area Km2:5
Highest Mount: 
Elevation M:137
Country:Canada
Country Admin Divisions Title:Province
Country Admin Divisions:Newfoundland and Labrador
Population:0

Baccalieu Island or Bacalhoo Island is a 5 km2 uninhabited island at the northern extremities of Conception Bay in Subdivision 1G, near the community of Red Head Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is separated from the island of Newfoundland by Baccalieu Tickle, a small strait and an abundant fishing ground. The island has some trees but is mostly rocky.

The name Baccalieu is derived either from the Portuguese bacalhau, Spanish bacalao or the Basque baccalos, all meaning "codfish". Early Portuguese maps dating before Columbus' voyage indicate an island west of the Azores named Terra do Bacalhau which may have been the whole island of Newfoundland. Modern Baccalieu Island was known to Europeans by that name since at least 1556, when it was drawn on the Gastaldi map as "Bacalaos".[1]

Ecological Reserve

See main article: Baccalieu Island Ecological Reserve. Baccalieu Island is the largest seabird island in Newfoundland and supports the greatest diversity of breeding seabirds in eastern North America. The island supports the largest known colony of Leach's storm-petrel in the world, approximately 40% of the global population and about 70% of the western Atlantic population of this species. It is a nesting area for 11 breeding species:

The island has a surface of 5 km2, and the reserve spans 23 km2, including all of the island and one kilometre of ocean around the coast.

Lighthouses

Qid:Q29869493
Baccalieu Island Lighthouse
North Point
Location:Baccalieu Island
Avalon Peninsula
Newfoundland and Labrador
Canada
Coordinates:48.1498°N -52.7982°W
Yearbuilt:1859 (first)
Yearlit:1990s (current)
Yeardeactivated:1990s (first)
Construction:brick tower covered by iron plates since 1893 with balcony and lantern (first)
steel skeletal tower (current)
Shape:cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern (first)
triangular tower (current)
Marking:rusty colour tower (first)
white tower (current)
Height:11m (36feet) (first)
13.5m (44.3feet) (current)
Focalheight:166m (545feet) (current)
Characteristic:Fl W 6s.
Managingagent:Baccalieu Island Ecological Reserve [2]

Historically, two lighthouses were operated on Baccalieu Island; today both are automated. The lighthouse on the northern end is not operational any more; its light was extinguished in the early 1990s. This lighthouse was replaced as an aid to navigation by an automated light on a skeletal tower. It was originally a brick tower and was later encased in iron. The two storey residence attached was removed after 1950. The old tower's data:

Lighthouse Keepers

North Light Keepers

Southwest Light Keepers

[3]

Ghost ship

In 1884 the merchant brig Resolven was found abandoned in the waters off Baccalieu and Catalina, Newfoundland and Labrador.[4] The fate of the crew is unknown.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.heritage.nf.ca/exploration/gastaldi_d.html The Gastaldi map
  2. December 29, 2015.
  3. Web site: Baccalieu Island Lighthouse .
  4. Web site: The most mysterious disappearances at sea . . 2019-12-01 . 2020-07-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200726121201/https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/photos/the-most-mysterious-disappearances-at-sea/ss-AAIDgnv?ocid=spartandhp#image=2 . live .