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Lifesaving lights
When Canada was young, the oceans were the world’s superhighways, and lakes and rivers were often the fastest routes inland. But navigating by sea could be a dangerous business. Ships travelled without radio, radar or sonar. They had no computers or satellite positioning devices. Sometimes, they didn’t even have accurate maps. Shipwrecks were a real threat, and vessels were often sunk by rocks along coastlines or hidden underwater. Lighthouses saved many lives with their bright warning beacons and lighthouse keepers who worked hard to make sure the lights were always shining.
Canada’s historic lighthouses are no longer essential for navigation, but they remain an important part of our national heritage. To recognize this, Canada Post has issued a set of PERMANENT™ domestic rate stamps featuring the flag flying proudly over five historic lighthouses.
The lighthouse at Point Clark, Ontario, was built in the 1850s to warn sailors of reefs off the shore of Lake Huron. The lighthouse at Pachena Point marks a dangerous stretch of coastline on western Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Since 1908, the lighthouse at Warren Landing, Manitoba, has guided boats along the Nelson River just north of Lake Winnipeg. The historic lighthouse at Cap-des-Rosiers, Quebec, is the tallest in Canada. Built in 1758, the tower on Sambro Island, Nova Scotia, is the oldest standing lighthouse in North America.
TMTrademark of Canada Post Corporation |
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