Baccalieu Island

Infobox Islands
name = Baccalieu Island


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Location map|Newfoundland|lat=48.14999|long=-52.79999|caption=Location of Baccalieu Island in Newfoundland
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coordinates = coord|48|07|49|N|52|48|05|W|region:CA_type:place
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area = km2 to mi2|5|abbr=yes
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elevation = m to ft|137|abbr=yes
country = Canada
country admin divisions title = Province
country admin divisions = flag|Newfoundland and Labrador
population = 0
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Baccalieu Island is a 5 km² uninhabited island at the northern extremities of Conception Bay near the community of Red Head Cove, Canada. It is separated from the island of Newfoundland by Baccalieu Tickle, a small strait and an abundant fishing ground.

The name 'Baccalieu' is derived either from the Portuguese bacalhau, Spanish bacalao or the Basque baccalos, all meaning "codfish". It was known to Europeans since at least 1556, when it was drawn on the Gastaldi map as "Bacalaos". [ [http://www.heritage.nf.ca/exploration/gastaldi_d.html The Gastaldi map] ] .

Lighthouses

There were two lighthouses located on Baccalieu Island of which today both are automated. The lighthouse on the northern end is not operational any more and 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 old tower's data:

* Tower Height: convert|36|ft|0|m
* Height of Focal Plane: convert|443|ft|0|m
* Description of Tower: Red, conical cast iron tower.
* Date Established: 1859
* Date Present Tower Built: 1858
* Date Deactivated: 1990s
* Current Use: Unknown
* Open To Public? No.

Four generations of the Ryan family kept the light at Baccalieu from 1858 to 1950. Other keepers at Baccalieu included Felix Noonan, Eric Blundon, John Hyde, Linus Walsh, Pat Rice and principle lightkeeper Raymond Hyde.

Ecological Reserve

:Main|Baccalieu Island Ecological ReserveBaccalieu 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:

* Atlantic Puffin (45,000 pairs - approximately 12% of the eastern North America population)
* Black-legged Kittiwake (13,000 - approximately 5 to 7% of the western Atlantic breeding population); and
* Northern Gannet (677 pairs - approximately 1.5% of the North American population).
* Northern Fulmar
* Black Guillemot
* Common Murre
* Thick-billed Murre
* Razorbill
* Herring Gull
* Great Black-backed Gull
* The island also includes one of the largest winter populations of Eider in Newfoundland.

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

Note

External links

* [http://www.aroundthebay.ca/btta/booklet/index.htm Baccalieu Trail]
* [http://collections.ic.gc.ca/baccalieutrail/home.html Historical Baccalieu Trail]
* [http://www.heritage.nf.ca/ Newfoundland Heritage Site]
* [http://www.lighthousedigest.com/database/uniquelighthouse.cfm?value=1479 Lighthouse Digest]
* [http://www.env.gov.nl.ca/parks/wer/r_bie/ Baccalieu Island Ecological Reserve homepage]
* [http://www.env.gov.nl.ca/parks/library/pdf/Reserves%20Maps/Baccalieu_Island_Ecological_Reserve.pdf PDF map of the island and the reserve]