Location | Lake Huron, Michigan |
---|---|
Coordinates | 45°56′56.12″N 83°54′10.98″W / 45.9489222°N 83.9030500°W |
Tower | |
Foundation | Concrete Crib pier |
Construction | Reinforced concrete and steel |
Automated | 1974[1] |
Height | Tower - 78 feet (24 m)[2] |
Shape | Square tower, Integral White square superstructure[3]decahedron lantern[4] |
Markings | White with black trim & red roof |
Heritage | National Register of Historic Places listed place, Michigan state historic site |
Fog signal | HORN: 2 every 60s |
Racon | "D" (Delta)(– • •) |
Light | |
First lit | 1931 |
Focal height | 74 feet (23 m) |
Lens | third and one-half order Fresnel lens (1908–1978), VRB-25, fourth order Fresnel lens (1857–1870) |
Range | W 16 nautical miles; 29 kilometres (18 mi), R 15 miles (24 km) |
Characteristic | Fl W 10s (R sector) Red from 079.5° to 189.5°. |
DeTour Reef Light Station | |
Nearest city | DeTour Township, Michigan |
Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
Architect | Office of Supt. of Lighthouses |
Architectural style | Classical Revival or Art Deco[6] |
MPS | Light Stations of the United States MPS |
NRHP reference No. | 05000151[5] |
Added to NRHP | March 15, 2005 |
The DeTour Reef Light is a non-profit-operated lighthouse marking the southern entrance of the DeTour Passage between the eastern end of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Drummond Island.[7] The light is an automated active aid to navigation.[8] It marks the northern end of Lake Huron. The passage is used by almost all of the Great Lakes commercial freighter traffic moving to and from Lake Superior, with approximately 5,000 vessel movements annually. It is said to be "the gateway to Lake Superior."[6] In addition, many recreational boaters use the passage. The Light is located in Lake Huron, three miles (5 km) south of the nearest town, DeTour Village, Michigan.