Caribou Island, Pictou County
Caribou Island, Nova Scotia
Caribou Island Geography
- Official Name: Caribou Island
- Mi’kmaq Name: “Komoogun-uk” meaning where birds are decoyed
- Geographic Feature Type Category: Populated Place
- Geographic Feature Type: Community
- Postal Code: B0K 1H0
- Latitude / Longitude: 45.754981, -62.717973
Note: The name also refers to the terrain feature: Island. A subcontinental land completely surrounded by water. Sometimes islands are connected to the main land by a causeway (most often due to man-made construction), it is still considered an island.
- Official Name: Caribou Island
- Geographic Feature Type Category: Terrain Feature
- Geographic Feature Type: Island
- Latitude / Longitude: 45.755082, -62.724672
Caribou Island Maps
- 1:50k Topographic NTS Map(s): 011E10 & 011E15
- 1:250k Topographic NTS Map: 011E
- 1879 Pictou County Atlas Map: Section 2
- Nova Scotia Land Grant Map(s): NS Land Grant map 86 / NS Land Grant map 092
- Nova Scotia 1:10k Topographic Map(s): 1045750062700 (Caribou Island) / 1045750062600 (Caribou Reef) / 1045700062700 (Caribou)
- Other Maps:
About Caribou Island
The rural coastal community of Caribou Island is located on the north side of Caribou Harbour along the Northumberland Strait, on Caribou Island. The Mi’kmaq name for Caribou Island was “Komoogun-uk” meaning where birds are decoyed.
The official name refers to both the terrain feature and the community. The Rev. George Patterson, in his History of the County of Pictou mentions that the island was once known as Big Carriboo, but eventually the spelling to match the animal was used.
On the 1879 Pictou County Atlas map (section 2), the island is also labeled as Big Caribou Island, and Munroes Island is labeled as Little Caribou Island (as Patterson refers to in his book). It also represents both islands as true islands (in the geographic sense), not being connected to the main land with the elongated sand spits like they currently are today. The geomorphological changes of the island indicate the power that the Northumberland Strait has on Pictou County coast lines.
The name Caribou was chosen because early settlers saw a herd of caribou out along the east point of the Island which they then named Caribou Point. Four rural communities in this area now share similar names; Caribou, Caribou Island, Caribou River, and Central Caribou.
William Rodgers who came to Nova Scotia from Ireland around 1769 settled here about 1803. Many of the land was granted to various McKenzie families.
A new school was built in 1898.
![Caribou Lighthouse in 1901
[Photograph courtesy Library and Archives Canada]](https://pictoucounty.net/wp-content/uploads/Caribou-Lighthouse-in-1901.jpg "Caribou Island 3")
The Lighthouse at Gull Point on the north east end of Caribou Island, guides ships navigating the Northumberland Strait as well as traffic in and out of Caribou Harbour.
The original lighthouse was built in 1868 by Robert Purves. Alexander Munroe was appointed the first keeper that year, and the light entered service shortly thereafter. A second Lighthouse was built in 1915. It consisted of a square two-storey dwelling with an octagonal lantern on its hipped roof. After the third station was built in 1971, this structure was moved down the road and actually serves as a private residence.
MacKenzie Beach Provincial Park is located along the north side between Black Point and Hawksbill Point . The beach portion is currently accessible by walking along a small path that leads over small sand dunes. It is a beautiful natural beach so depending on the time of year and weather, you may find it sandy and clear, or contains lots of seaweed and driftwood.
Caribou Island Cemetery is a small, historic burial ground located at the head of Caribou Harbour near Hansons Cove. The cemetery’s establishment date is not formally recorded, but surviving headstones date back to the late 19th century. It serves as the final resting place for several generations of Pictou County residents, notably members of the MacKenzie family and other early settlers. The cemetery is enclosed by a fence but lacks an official signage. Many of the old stones have weathered severely and are difficult to read.
The grounds are accessible year-round but require a short walk through private property. Visitors should be respectful of surrounding cottages and avoid disturbing the vegetation. For more details, check Caribou Island Cemetery on Find a Grave.
Directions
- Drive halfway down Caribou Island.
- Take the first right past Kenneth Point Road.
- Park at the gated entrance and follow the access road to the water’s edge.
- Turn left, walk behind the cottage, then follow a wooded path leading to the fenced cemetery.
Other Official Place Names located within the community include:
- Black Point
- Caribou Island Outer Beach
- Caribou Reef
- Gull Point
- Gull Spit
- Gully Head
- Hansons Cove
- Hawksbill Point
- Kenneth Point
- Little Point
- MacCarthys Point
- Mackenzie Point
- MacKenzie Beach Provincial Park
- Ram Island
Click any links above to reveal more geographical information about that place …
Names of Roads and Streets located in Caribou Island
Do you have any streets or road names that we missed?
Then we would love for you to share that info to with us to help us further complete this community page
- Apple Lane
- Archibalds Lane
- Archies Lane
- Bayberry Lane
- Baywatch Lane
- Blue Heron Lane
- Caribou Island Road
- Ernies Lane
- Factory Cove Lane
- Gunns Cove Lane
- Harbour Side Drive
- Hilltop Lane
- Indian Point Drive
- Kenneth Point Road
- Little Guy Lane
- Mac Carthy Lane
- Margarets Lane
- Memory Lane
- Munroe Lane
- Osprey Lane
- Our Lane
- Raspberry Hill
- Red Point Road
- Sunset Drive
- Surf Cove Lane
- Wild Rose Lane
- Williams Lane
Caribou Island Maps
Caribou Island Videos
- 1:50k Topographic NTS Map(s): 011E10 & 011E15
- 1:250k Topographic NTS Map: 011E
- 1879 Pictou County Atlas Map: Section 2
- Nova Scotia Land Grant Map(s): NS Land Grant map 86 / NS Land Grant map 092
- Nova Scotia 1:10k Topographic Map(s): 1045750062700 (Caribou Island) / 1045750062600 (Caribou Reef) / 1045700062700 (Caribou)
- Other Maps:
[Sources: Nova Scotia Place Names – T. Brown / Places of Nova Scotia – C. Bruce Fergusson / History of the County of Pictou Nova Scotia – Rev. George Patterson / Library and Archives Canada] / Lighthousefriends.com / Chance Heritage Trust / Find a Grave ]
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