A Look at Lighthouses
Lighthouses are the traffic signs of the sea. Throughout the ages, lighthouses have served as harbingers of warning, or of hope for a safe arrival at port. Guiding weary mariners to the end of their journey, the bright beacon of the lighthouse warns of dangers that lurk near the shore. The use of lighthouses can historically be traced back to before the common era (BCE). Approximately 280 BCE, to pinpoint a date.
Named after the Greek ruler Alexander the Great, the city of Alexandria was the ancient capital of Egypt. The city was on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Because of the threat of shipwreck in the harbor, Alexander proposed the building of a lighthouse on the small island of Pharos which sits at the edge of the Nile delta in the harbor. He died before his idea could be put into action. His general, Ptolemy I was the leader after him and he is the one who started building the lighthouse. The building of the lighthouse lasted longer than this ruler’s reign as well. Finally, it was Ptolemy II who actually had the lighthouse completed. Accounts vary of how long it took to build the lighthouse from as little as 12 to 30 years, also accounts of the height vary from 100 to 140 meters (a minimum of 330 feet high), to the height of a 40-story building. I try to think of the height of 3 to 4 football fields stacked up into the sky to envision how tall this must have been.
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| Lighthouse light bulb |
The Lighthouse of Alexandria was classified as one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. It was one of the tallest man-made structures for centuries. And it survived, in part for over 1000 years. Earthquakes damaged the lighthouse from 956 to 1323 CE. Eventually it was abandoned because of the destruction and the stone was reused to build a citadel or fort on the island on top of the ruins of the lighthouse.
In 1994 a French diving team embarked on a search to find the remains of the lighthouse under the water around the island. They found proof of its existence and were able to extrapolate images of how it looked using the remains and historical descriptions. Several historians, including Julius Caesar and biblical historian Josephus, mention the lighthouse in their writings.
Descriptions of the lighthouse all agree that it had three distinct sections, a square bottom portion, the octagonal middle section, and the cylindrical top section which contained the light. Some of the descriptions also mention there were statues of the Greek Gods, such as Poseidon or Zeus on the corners of the square portion and at the top of the lighthouse. In the past actual fires were kept lit to create the light for the lighthouses, candles and gas lanterns have also been used. Today lighthouses rely on electricity and can even be operated remotely which may eventually cause the job of lighthouse keeper to become obsolete. Wood was scarce in ancient Egypt, so it is not known what was used to fuel the fire for the furnace that created the light for the lighthouse of Alexandria.
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| Ancient Roman mosaic showing the Lighthouse of Alexandria |
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| Artist's conception drawing of the lighthouse. |
• Lighthouses are popular tourist attractions.
• The paint pattern on a light house helps mariners identify them during the daytime. If one is located against some white cliffs, painting stripes on the lighthouse help it to be recognized. If it is located against a dark background, it will be painted white to made it more noticeable during the daytime.
• The height of a lighthouse is, determined by its location. Shorter lighthouses will be located on clifftop areas, taller ones on lower or shore terrain.
If more than one lighthouse is located within a relatively close geographical area (and might be seen at the same time out at sea), they will use different flashing patterns so the lighthouses can be distinguished from each other.
Lighthouses can be outfitted with moisture sensors so that the fog warnings as well as the lights can be activated automatically or remotely without the need for a keeper to remain on the premises.
Some Notable Lighthouses:
Sandy
Hook NJ Light. (http://www.njlhs.org/njlight/sandy.html)
Sandy Hook Light, New Jersey Coast USA- The oldest operating lighthouse in the USA. Built in 1764, to guide ships into the south end of the New York harbor. At the time of its construction, it stood 500 feet from the shore, but because of the deposition of sediment along the shore (called littoral drift) it now lies about 2.5 miles from the shore. During the Revolutionary War, an attempt was made to destroy it because it was feared it would aid British soldiers navigating in the area. It was also occupied by British soldiers for a period of time during the war. The lighthouse is part of the park system, it was restored in 2000 and can be toured.
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Cape Hatteras Light Station, Outer Banks North Carolina USA (Winston-Salem Journal) |
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse/Outer Banks North Carolina USA- With it candy-like stripes, this lighthouse is an iconic symbol of east coast lighthouses, although along with this one, there are several other lighthouses dotting the coast in this area of barrier islands outlining the North Carolina coastal area. It is the tallest lighthouse in the USA. Because of the eroding shoreline where it was located, in the years 1999-2000, the lighthouse was moved about 2800 ft (380 m) inland to stabilize it.
The lighthouse has a fascinating history during World War II, when it was important for national defense. German submarines (called U-boats) patrolled the waters near the outer banks and sank some merchant and navy ships. The Coast Guard used the light house light to spot the U-boats, which would surface at night.
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Sambro Island Light, Nova Scotia, Canada |
Sambro Island Light, Halifax, Novia
Scotia, Canada- Said to be the oldest continuously
working light on the North American Continent, the Sambro Island Light (82 ft
tall) sits at the entrance of Halifax Harbor. Naval battles took place here during
the US Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and World War II. Those pesky German U-boats
were causing trouble again along the coast by shooting torpedoes at Allied
merchant and naval ships. It was built in the 1750’s and up until 1870, used
canon blasts as a foghorn to warn mariners of foggy seas. In the early 1900’s,
the lighthouse was made two stories taller and painted with red and white horizontal
stripes to make it more visible during snowstorms. The lighthouse is now
completely automated, so it no longer requires a keeper but does host occasional
tourists.
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Tower of Hercules, Corunna Spain |
Tower of Hercules, Corunna, Spain- This ancient lighthouse, built about 200 CE is located on the coast in the north-west part of Spain. It dates from the time of the Romans, nearly 2000 years ago. Originally built from plans for the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the exterior was redesigned and restored in 1791, it originally had a spiral stairway snaking up all around the exterior. The lighthouse is the oldest Roman lighthouse in use today. The restoration accounts for the modern look of the lighthouse today which is now 180 ft (55 m) tall and has been made a world heritage site. The ancient cornerstone of the lighthouse has been preserved and lists the name of the original Roman architect, Gaius Sevius Lupus. The location of the lighthouse is purported to be at the site of one of the battles of the mythical Twelve Labors of Hercules.
Books featuring lighthouses: Fiction
The Lighthouse at the End of the World by Jules Verne
The Light Between Oceans by M L Steadman
The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter: A Novel by Hazel Gaynor
The Lighthouse Keeper (A Starlight Cove Novel) Cynthia Ellingsen
16 Lighthouse Road (Cedar Cove Book 1) Book 1 of 12: Cedar Cove | by Debbie Macomber
Lighthouse Library Mysteries Series by Eva Gates
The Lighthouse by P.D. James (Adam Dalgliesh series #13)
Non-Fiction:
American Lighthouses: A Comprehensive Guide To Exploring Our National Coastal Treasures
by Bruce Roberts and Cheryl Shelton-Roberts
Lighthouses of the World: A Celebration of the World's Most Beautiful Lighthouses by Lisa Purcell
Lighthouse: An Illuminating History of the World's Coastal Sentinels by R. G. Grant
The Last Lighthouse Keeper: A Memoir Kindle Edition by John Cook
Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter: The Remarkable True Story Of American Heroine Ida Lewis
by Lenore Skomal
The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses: An Illustrated Companion to the History, Design, and Lore
by Michael J. Rhein and Samuel Willard Compton
The Lighthouse Stevensons by Bella Bathurst
For Children /Youth:
Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall
The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge by Hildegarde H. Swift and Lynd Ward
Coloring:
Lighthouse Coloring Book: An Adult Coloring Book Featuring the Most Beautiful Lighthouses Around the World for Stress Relief and Relaxation
Lighthouses of the World Coloring Book (Dover History Coloring Book) by John Batchelor
Sources
https://capepoint.co.za/5-interesting-facts-about-lighthouses/
https://wanderwisdom.com/misc/famous-lighthouses
Wikipedia
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tower-of-hercules
