Waugoshance Light

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The lighthouse at Waugoshance protects a very shallow area at the northern end of Lake Michigan. Boats from Chicago heading North (and ultimately) East need to negotiate the narrow tip of northern Lake Michigan (located at latitude 45° 48.606' longitude -85° 7.944' ^[1]), and dangers are numerous. The area around Waugoshance is not only shallow, it's a large (in area) projection from the bottom of the lake. Boats large enough to safely travel in times of storm cannot approach the light closer than a few hundred yards ^[2].

Adding to the complication of navigation in this area is the White Shoal, located just north of Waugoshance. This is currently protected by White Shoal Light (Michigan).

The light at Waugoshance is arguably the first light built in the Great Lakes that is fully surrounded by water. It was difficult to build, it was difficult to maintain. Terry Pepper has a very good summary of the problems of construction and maintenance that will not be reproduced here. ^[3]

[edit] References

[edit] Bibliography and further reading

• Bibliography on Michigan lighthouses.
• Hyde, Charles K., and Ann and John Mahan. The Northern Lights: Lighthouses of the Upper Great Lakes. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1995. ISBN 0814325548 ISBN 9780814325544.
• Oleszewski, Wes, Great Lakes Lighthouses, American and Canadian: A Comprehensive Directory/Guide to Great Lakes Lighthouses, (Gwinn, Michigan: Avery Color Studios, Inc., 1998) ISBN 0-932212-98-0.
• Penrod, John, Lighthouses of Michigan, (Berrien Center, Michigan: Penrod/Hiawatha, 1998) ISBN 9780942618785 ISBN 9781893624238.
• Penrose, Laurie and Bill, A Traveler’s Guide to 116 Michigan Lighthouses (Petoskey, Michigan: Friede Publications, 1999). ISBN 0923756035 ISBN 9780923756031
• Pepper, Terry. Seeing the Light: Lighthouses on the western Great Lakes.
• Putnam, George R., Lighthouses and Lightships of the United States, (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1933).
• Wagner, John L.. Beacons Shining in the Night: The Lighthouses of Michigan. Clarke Historical Library, Central Michigan University.
• Wagner, John L., Michigan Lighthouses: An Aerial Photographic Perspective, (East Lansing, Michigan: John L. Wagner, 1998) ISBN 1880311011 ISBN 9781880311011.
• Wright, Larry and Wright, Patricia, Great Lakes Lighthouses Encyclopedia Hardback (Erin: Boston Mills Press, 2006) ISBN 1550463993.