What color is the light on a cardinal buoy indicating north?

The light on a cardinal buoy indicating north is white. Cardinal buoys are used primarily to indicate safe navigable water and direct mariners to where to navigate based on the cardinal direction the buoy represents. Each cardinal buoy has a specific color pattern and light characteristic that denotes a direction.

In the case of the north cardinal buoy, it has a specific configuration that includes a white light displaying a particular flash pattern—typically a sustained flash or one that is very distinctive. The use of a white light is standardized to ensure that mariners can easily identify it at night or in reduced visibility conditions, reinforcing its role in navigation.

The other colors listed are used for different purposes and directional indications. Green typically indicates the portside (left) in the lateral buoyage system, while red indicates the starboard side (right). Flashing yellow is often used for special buoys or specific navigational hazards, but it does not serve to identify the north cardinal point. Thus, the correct identification of the buoy's light color as white is pivotal for safe navigation and orientation in maritime contexts.