Cape Forchu, Nova Scotia

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Coordinates: 43°48′25″N, 66°09′30″W Cape Forchu (population: 79) is a small village and a land mass that parallels the shoreline on which the town of Yarmouth is located, providing protection for Yarmouth Harbour. During the 17th century and the 18th century fishing, water transportation and trade were essential to everyday life in Cape Forchu. In the 19th century Yarmouth Harbour became one of the largest ports of registry of sailing ships in the world. In the late 1800's, it was the second largest port of registry in Canada. Shipwrecks were common along the shoreline and it was recommended by Colonel Robert Morse in 1874 that a chain of lighthouses should be built along the shores of Nova Scotia hence the Cape Forchu Lighthouse. The original lighthouse at Cape Forchu was built in 1840. It was replaced in 1962 by one of the most fascinating concrete towers in Canada. As of 2000, the original fresnel lens used at the lighthouse, sits in the Yarmouth County Museum.