Cape Beale
Cape Beale is located at the southern entrance to
Barkley Sound, approximately 64 kilometers north of
Cape Flattery. The Cape is marked as the
entrance to Pacific
in which the
colder salty ocean begins.
Cape Beale was named by
Captain Charles Barkley in
1789 to honour John Beale, the
purser of Barkley's Ship the Imperial Eagle.
Historically, Cape Beale's rugged coastline led to the sinking of many vessels. For
this reason, after much effort in landing on the cape,
Benjamin W. Pearse and others found a viable spot to begin construction on the lighthouse. The Cape
Beale Lighthouse was lit for the first time by Robert Westmoreland on
1 July 1874.
The waters off Cape Beale have been described as among the most dangerous of the
BC coast; therefore, the lighthouse has functioned uninterrupted for over 145 years. Along with its rugged coastline, Cape Beale is also known for its diverse marine
life. Species such as: humpbacks, orcas, basking sharks, sea lions, and more can be
found along the cape.
- 1. Cape Beale Lighthouse, Cape Beale BC ; Cape Beale, Alberni Charters: Vancouver Island Fishing Charters, Port Alberni, BC.
- 2. Ibid.
- 3. Megan Thomas, Keeping Watch, CBC News, 5 May 2019.
- 4. Cape Beale, Alberni Charters.