What is most important when passing near a lighthouse?

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A lighthouse is a tower that consists of a bright light at the topmost part of it. Lighthouses are located in dangerous or important places (for instance, an area of high tides and sea storms). The two main purposes that a lighthouse serves are – 

  • to warn the vessels in seas of dangerous areas and
  • to provide navigational aid

Keep reading to find out more information about it!

Where are they usually located?

They are found in a wide variety of places. Whether it be on sandy shoals on land or rocky cliffs, they are also located at entrances of bays and harbors. They primarily serve to warn the sailors of dangerous reefs beneath the sea or even of sharp and rocky coasts on land.

All of the lighthouses give out only one silent message, and that is for sailors to stay away, as those places where the lighthouses are located entail danger.

Tips For Sailors Who Drive Vessels

If you are in a “there is a lighthouse near me” type of situation, then follow these tips:

  • The character and range of the lighthouse’s light.
  • The exact location of the lighthouse lets one identify its beacon so that sailors can avoid coming too close to it.
  • The range of the light lets one know how far away from the lighthouse one needs to be in order to be safe.

These are the three most important pieces of advice on lighthouses for sailors.

Few Things To Keep In Mind While Passing By A Lighthouse

Here is a list of a few things that should be considered while passing by a lighthouse:

  • Lighthouses are mostly located in areas where there are strong currents. So, when approaching a lighthouse, be cautious of the water conditions.
  • You should always listen to the foghorn when it plays out.
  • When the weather conditions are foggy, a horn blares out to warn ships and vessels out at sea to provide them caution about the dangers.
  • Be sure to steer clear of the light beam as the light that comes outta a lighthouse is blinding and very strong.

Random Facts About Lighthouses

Here is a list of some of the most random facts about lighthouses:

  • The oldest lighthouse to exist is situated In America, at a place called Sandy Hook.
  • The tallest lighthouse is situated in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. It is of a height of 200 feet in total. It was built in the year 1872.
  • Lighthouses are made o of granite, wood, brick, cast iron, and steel, and some even have an outer skin of aluminum.
  • The lighthouse keepers earlier didn’t use to have uniforms up until the year 1884.
  • There were lighthouse keepers who were female, too, but most of them took over this role when their husbands died or got incapacitated.
  • These towers might seem alike, but upon closer inspection, you will get to know that they are actually distinguishable from each other. They have different patterns painted on their outer walls – diamonds, stripes, spirals, etc.
  • The most expensive lighthouse to be built to date is St. George Reef, which was built in America. It took about ten years to finish constructing it.

FAQs

  1. Why are lighthouses painted differently? Do the designs on the outer walls of the lighthouses represent anything?

A: Lighthouses are all painted in different colors and designs to serve as a day mark to the mariners. Mariners who are out at sea during the day will identify the location/area that they are passing by looking at the distinguishable mark of that particular lighthouse.

  1. If lighthouses are painted differently to set them apart during the day, then how can they be said apart during the nighttime?

A: Each unique lighthouse flashes a very particular and different sequence of light and something called the “notified.” The mariners are able to see the flashing light with the help of a “notified chart” and are able to identify the location and area where the light is coming from that way.

  1. What are manned and unmanned lighthouses?

A: Lighthouses that have officials posted to maintain and operate them are known as manned lighthouses. In recent days with the advancement of technology, the lights of a lighthouse work automatically, and that is why they do not need manpower at the lighthouse to operate them and are hence termed “unmanned lighthouses.”

  1. What was used to illuminate the “light” in lighthouses before there was electricity?

A: Prior to electricity, there were fuels like gas and kerosene that were used to light the lighthouse.

To Wrap It Up!

Lighthouses silently end up saving a lot of lives every year of people who are out in the waters.

Thank you for reading up till here. I hope you found the information useful. Let me know in the comments your thoughts on the same.

Guest article written by: Blogger Clara Adams is really dedicated. She enjoys blogging about his views, experiences, and thoughts with other people. Clara Adams is connected to the News Profy, Circle Box Blog, World Health Life, Tech Rab, Tech Mag News, Plus Life Style, World Tech 24, Proudly Update, True Health Tips.