Backgrounder - Sainte-Marthe-de-Gaspé Lighthouse
Backgrounder
Name: Sainte-Marthe-de-Gaspé Lighthouse
Established: 1876
Constructed: 1906
Location: La Martre, Quebec
The Sainte-Marthe-de-Gaspé Lighthouse, also known as the La Martre Lighthouse, is a tapered octagonal timber-framed tower painted red, featuring classic proportions and details. Standing 19.2 meters tall from its base to the lantern, it is part of a chain of lighthouses that line the south shore of the St. Lawrence River. Its height, its prominent location atop a coastal cliff, its long-standing presence, and its vivid red color make it a striking landmark, visible both from land and from the water. The current lighthouse, built in 1906, replaced the original structure erected in 1876. At that time, the municipality of La Martre had a thriving fishing industry. Over the decades, the growth of river transport and maritime activity in the region strengthened the lighthouse’s strategic role, making it an essential navigational aid for international navigation and local trade during its operational years.
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