Colchester Reef Light

Colchester Reef Light stands on an exposed reef in western Lake Erie south of Colchester, Ontario, where it remains an active navigational aid. First built in 1885 to replace a lightvessel, the original lighthouse was designed by Colonel William P. Anderson with living quarters, a fog bell tower, and a stone caisson base that still survives. Harsh conditions, especially winter ice and wave exposure, damaged the structure over time, and the original tower was demolished in 1954. The present white steel skeletal tower with a helicopter landing pad continues the site’s role in guiding navigation while preserving part of an earlier Great Lakes lighthouse design.

Ontario · Canada