Interesting facts about sea lighthouses: history in stone

Part of history, part of life

Lighthouses are part of everyday life and the millennia-old history of navigation. These structures, located on steep cliffs, islands and near harbors, have long become something more than just landmarks. Lighthouses are a symbol of hope. Lighthouses are a sign that the land is close. However, sometimes lighthouses do not foretell a long-awaited vacation, but, on the contrary, warn of danger. 

Interestingly, we owe most of the myths and legends that surround lighthouses to lighthouse keepers. Sea monsters and mermaids, ghosts and ghosts - this part of maritime folklore also appeared thanks to lighthouse keepers. Months and even years alone or in very limited company often had an extremely negative impact on the moral and psychological state of the caretakers, which led to neuroses and other joys of mental health.

Many keepers abused alcohol and other psychoactive substances in order to better cope with loneliness at the lighthouse. Under the influence of constant stress, harsh weather conditions and alcohol, stories were born about otherworldly creatures, mysterious monsters from the sea, etc. Fortunately, this side of the lighthouse story should soon end.

Gradually, thanks to automation and digitalization, the profession of caretakers is becoming a thing of the past. However, the legends and myths, the dense fog of which surrounds the lighthouses, continue to live!

What does the color and height of the lighthouses say?

Everyone is familiar with the visual image of a lighthouse - a tall building on a cliff with red and white stripes. But why can lighthouses be striped at all? The whole point is where exactly the lighthouse is located. The choice of color for the walls of the building is based on the same principle as the inscription on the sides of the yacht. The lighthouse, like the inscription on the side of your boat, should be contrasting. 

Light colors (mostly white) are used if the lighthouse stands, for example, against a background of dark rocks. Additional stripes of red or black are applied if the lighthouse stands against a background of light rocks or sand. This way it will stand out quite clearly. 

As for the height of the lighthouses, it’s all about the curvature of our home planet Earth. The higher the lighthouse itself, the farther its light will be visible. However, there is one nuance here - it is not enough to just build a high lighthouse. The light of a lighthouse that is too high can indeed be seen very far, but it will not be visible to ships that pass close to the coastline. 

This problem is solved as follows. Lighthouses located on cliffs usually have a lower intrinsic height compared to lighthouses that stand at sea level. Rock beacons compensate for their own low height due to the rock and are equally visible both near and far. 

What does the light of the lighthouse mean?

If you see two beacon lights instead of one, which also flicker at different frequencies, be careful. Beacons located nearby are specially configured so that they flicker at different frequencies. This makes it easier and faster to distinguish from in the dark.

If we talk about the color of the lighthouse’s glow, then everything is not so simple here either. If the light of a beacon has a specific hue, then this is a direct signal of what should and should not be done. 

Red light is used for beacons that warn of navigational hazards such as reefs, rocks or other obstacles. The color red provides high visibility and often means “caution.” Green light is used for beacons indicating safe routes or port entrances. A green light usually signals to mariners that they are on the right track.

White light can be used for a variety of purposes, including marking ports, buoys and other navigational locations. White light can also serve to distinguish the beacon from other light sources. Yellow light is generally used less frequently, but can serve to indicate specific navigational conditions or features.

Features of some lighthouses

Let's look at some interesting statistics about lighthouses:

• right up to the 17th century, almost the entire coast of France remained in darkness at night - no lighthouses were built to prevent night raids by pirates;
• the oldest surviving lighthouse is the so-called. Tower of Hercules in La Coruña, Spain; this lighthouse was erected at the beginning of our era;
• the oldest lighthouse, according to historical chronicles, is the Alexandria Lighthouse which, alas, has not survived;
• The most popular lighthouse is the Portland Head Lighthouse on Cape Elizabeth - it is most often photographed
• the Fare du Crich lighthouse near Uchamp, France, is the brightest in the world, illuminating up to 30 miles; 
• The tallest lighthouse in the world is in Saudi Arabia. The Jeddah Port Control Tower is 133 meters high.

By the way, did you know that there are many historical lighthouses in Europe that you can visit? We have compiled a list of nine of the most interesting lighthouses for you! You can get acquainted follow this link.

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18.01.2024