Cape d’Or
Cape d’Or and its lighthouse watch over the ‘Dory Rips’– powerful tidal currents. They also stand on towering basalt cliffs in which historic native copper mines can still be seen. Known to the Mi’kmaq for millenia, the copper deposits were ‘rediscovered’ by Samuel de Champlain in the early 1600s, and mined in a ‘boom’ period from 1900-1907.
Geological Formation: North Mountain Formation
Age: Late Triassic-Early Jurassic (circa 200 million years)
Directions: Take Highway 209 east of Advocate to Back Street. In about 0.5 km, turn onto Cape D’Or Road and go south 5.6 km to Cape d’Or lighthouse. Park at top where there is a viewing platform. If you choose, follow the steeply descending track to the lighthouse but stay back from the cliff edge at the bottom.
GPS Coordinates: 45.290726, -64.774116
Tide Times: http://www.tides.gc.ca/eng/station?sid=236
Ancestors Live Here Video Series: L’mu’julktuk: place of the dogs Cape d’Or on Vimeo
Other Popular GeoSites