Frequently Asked Questions

The existing keepers' dwelling, now referred to as Cape House, was built in 1952 as a duplex for the two families that kept the station. They were on duty 24 hours a day, all year long. As the automation of the station progressed, the second keeper was no longer necessary, and during the 1980s, only one keeper was present. By 1988, the automation process was tried and tested and the one keeper was retired, leaving the house abandoned and t he target of vandalism and deterioration.

This lighthouse is one of the oldest lighthouses on the Bay of Fundy. Although there have been two keepers' dwellings, this is the original lighthouse and it has been in continuous operation since its construction in 1848. It is now owned, maintained and operated by the Cape Enrage Interpretive Centre, but is totally automatic and runs itself night and day, all year long. The light at the top is continuous and the fog alarm starts when the sensors detect fog.

All donations are used for wages and site improvements. The Board of Directors is constituted of volunteers and receive no personal benefit from your donations.

Cape Enrage Interpretive Centre is a not-for profit organization with registered charity.   The oversight of Cape Enrage is the responsibility of a volunteer Board of Directors which is constituted of committed, concerned professionals from the area tourism industry and the community at large. On-site, the staffing team is comprised of two managers and 4-6 staff.

The property is open to the public right through the winter. A surprising number of visitors come to Cape Enrage even in the coldest, stormiest days of winter. However, services to the public commence in late April and swell to full operation on the long May weekend (Victoria Day in Canada or Memorial Day in the United States). The operation begins to wind down at Labour Day. Each day, the property isopen for visitation from dawn to dark. Our staff are available from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM but will assist you if requested beyond those hours. For special requests, call our office at 877-2273 and we will try to meet your needs.

For a full description of the wonder of the tides, talk to the staff or attend one of our educational workshops. It would be worth your time to explore the marvel of the tidal mechanisms with the guidance of an expert. Briefly, the tides undergo two complete cycles (high tide...low tide / high tide... low tide) approximately every 25 hours . The height of the water at high and low tide is determined by the position of the moon and the sun in the moon's lunar cycle. The dimensions, shape, and orientation of the Bay of Fundy magnify the effect that occurs to a lesser degree all over the planet. But there is more... much, much more! Don't miss an opportunity to understand more fully this Marine Wonder of the World.

Revenues to keep this project alive are generated through the activities and services we provide for the public. The property is leased from the Province of New Brunswick by Cape Enrage Interpretive Centre Incorporated and all costs are the responsibility of the leasee. Your donations, gifts and the fees for activities account for nearly all the income. Each year we apply for any summer student wage grants that are available and have had as many as six students subsidized by those grants. We are grateful for that assistance, but it accounts for only about 10% of the nearly $130,000 needed to pay the staff. Your participation in the activities and your generous donations make it possible to keep the project moving forward. Any shortfall is covered personally by the Board of Directors.

Absolutely!! Our goal is to provide as many people as possible with a positive experience while here at the Cape. If our regular services do not meet your needs, we are pleased to tailor programs or offerings that will allow you to be part of the Cape Enrage experience. Ask for information from any staff member.

Yes, this is Barn Marsh Island and the only connection to the mainland is the beach/roadway that you need to drive across to get there. The marsh that appears to connect the island to the mainland is actually a saltwater creek that is filled with water twice daily by the rising of the Bay of Fundy. The island is 6 km long with 50-m cliffs along its eastern shore. Incidentally, a 4-hour, round trip hike along its coastline is exciting and educational. But be sure to consult our staff before heading out - there are dangers that are extremely important because of the giant tides that formed this island.

Mostly lobster-fishing boats come to our area. In the past, this was a major shipping lane for sail boats and cargo vessels hauling quarried stone, gravel, lumber, gypsum, and oil. Several ship-building communities arose from the shipping industry in this part of the Bay. Modern navigation aids make the light station far less important nowadays.

As you stand on the deck of Cape House facing Chignecto Bay, from your far left to your extreme right is the Province of Nova Scotia, roughly 8.5 km away. At the far left is the border between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and the community of Aulac, though not visible, is at the point where the headland dips lowest to the horizon. Moving farther to the right from Aulac is the community of Joggins where individual buildings can be seen on a clear day. Joggins is world renowned for its fossil deposits. As your view sweeps the coastline directly in front of you, the remote wilderness of the Sand River area shows high cliffs much the same as here at the Cape. The last point of land to the far right (not visible from the deck) is near the village of Apple River. Beyond that point, the shoreline takes you to the Minas Basin and Parsborough, Kentville, and the beginning of the Annapolis Valley.

Most of the fishing boats that we observe are fishing for lobster which may be purchased in the village of Alma. The Bay directly in front of the Cape is between 160feet and 400 feet deep (50m to 130m). An amazing fact about the Bay of Fundy is that in any 24-hour cycle, more water moves in and out of the Bay than flows out of all the rivers in the world combined!! Truly a marine wonder of the world!

The point of rocks (reef) that extends off the southern end of the island below the lighthouse causes the extreme current that passes over it to become "enraged", and poses a serious threat to ships. At certain times of the tidal cycle each day, the waters are very turbulent.

Visit the lighthouse and ask how it works. Eat in the Keepers' Lunchroom food overlooking the sea. Purchase a memento of your visit or some local artwork. Enjoy a picnic lunch at one of our picnic tables at no charge. Walk to the fossil-rich ocean floor down the beach stairway. Enjoy the exciting sport of rappelling or climbing with full instruction. Hike the coastline and ask about the many types of camp experiences for all ages.