This 197-foot circular tower is not only a symbol of the Shonan area, it has also developed a religious significance since it opened for tourists after World War II. From the top of this lighthouse, visitors can enjoy beautiful views of caves, Mount Fuji and Sagami Bay, and at night the observatory changes colors. Higher above the lookout point, the Lantern Room flashes a white light every 10 seconds, roughly 351 feet above sea level. Photo Courtesy of Emitr via flickr.com
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in North Carolina
Located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the first lighthouse for this Atlantic Ocean cape was finished in 1803 and later revamped so that the light would be visible from farther away. In 1870, the current 193-foot Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was completed—making it the highest brick lighthouse in the world at the time. For years this black-and-white striped beauty battled with beach erosion and was later moved to a safer location. Photo Courtesy of Chor Lp via flickr.com
Kõpu Lighthouse in Estonia
The third oldest lighthouse in operation, this immense stone structure is 120 feet tall with a light that shines 340 feet above sea level. Completed in 1531, the Kõpu lighthouse took 26 years to build and is the marker for the Hiiu sandbank. In 1659 the structure was renovated so it would be taller—increasing the visibility to 15 miles—and the wooden stairs were replaced with sturdier iron ones. Since then, there have been many additional improvements and the lighthouse is now a cultural memorial and tourist attraction with a breathtaking view of the Kõpu peninsula. Photo Courtesy of Jaan Rebane via Wikipedia (GNU Free Documentation License)
Tower of Hercules in Spain
This 180-foot, 1900-year-old edifice is the oldest working ancient Roman lighthouse in the world. Recently named a National Monument of Spain
, the Tower of Hercules is thought to be modeled after the Lighthouse of Alexandria (also featured in this article). The original structure of the lighthouse included a ramp for oxen to bring carts of wood to fuel the fire at night. A major renovation took place in 1788, adding 69 feet to the height, which is equivalent to a building’s story. Photo Courtesy of Alexvc26 via flickr.com
Boston Light in Massachusetts
Little Brewster Island in Boston Harbor is home to this 89-foot lighthouse, which has graced the horizon since 1716. America’s first fog signal—which was actually a canon—was added to the structure in 1719. During the America Revolution, the original lighthouse was occupied by the British forces and attacked by American troops. As a result of Britain’s surrender in 1776, the lighthouse was rebuilt in 1783, and then renovated to its current height in 1859. To signal boats in the harbor, every 10 seconds a white light flashes, which is visible for 16 miles. Photo Courtesy of Devin Ford via flickr.com
Charleston Light in South Carolina
The last significant lighthouse built by the United States government, this tower was completed in 1962 and stands strong and true over Charleston. The unique triangle shape has one point facing the ocean while its steel construction helps the tower endure winds up to 125 miles per hour. In a quick 74 seconds, visitors soar to the top thanks to the only elevator installed in an American lighthouse. The original lighting contained 28 million candelas and was the most powerful in the Western Hemisphere. Due to complaints from the community as well as sailors, the light was reduced to 1.2 million candelas and featured a combination of flashes and eclipses visible for up to 26 miles. Photo courtesy of photographer Jonathan Lamb via Wikipedia (GNU Free Documentation License)
Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt
One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was built in 200 BC on the small island of Pharos and was connected to the mainland by a massive causeway. Thought to have stood 492 feet high, it is considerably taller than any modern-day lighthouses. Much of the history is unconfirmed, but many claim you could see the light beacon from 35 miles away and that the structure had unique Roman features including a statue of Poseidon, a mirror that would reflect the sunlight, four statues of Triton on each corner and a church located at the top. Unfortunately, after years of destruction from earthquakes, the building collapsed in the 14th century. Note: There are no photographs of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, however, the image above is of an exact replica built in China. Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia
Yokohama Marine Tower in Japan
In 1961, this was the tallest lighthouse ever—reaching 324 feet in the air with views of Mount Fuji. Known for its utility and architecture, this structure played a significant role in the inauguration of the Yokohama Port. In December 2006 the tower was closed for renovation and reopened in May 2009 to mark the 150th anniversary for the city of Yokohama. The lighthouse, which has alternating green and red lights, can be seen from 20 miles out at sea and now features all sorts of entertainment including a restaurant, a bar and gift shop. Photo Courtesy of Jmsmytaste via flickr.com
Roman Lighthouse at Dover Castle in England
This 80-foot structure was ordered to be built by the Roman Emperor Claudius in AD 46 and is the oldest lighthouse still standing in the United Kingdom. It sits along the grounds of Dover Castle, which has been coined the “Key to England” due to its remarkable significance over the centuries. Shaped like an octagon and located next to the Saxon Church of St Mary-in-Castro, the lighthouse is four stories tall and is the center of controversy in reference to the reasons it was built; some say that in addition to its normal use as a beacon for ships, it may have also been used for smoke signals under certain circumstances. Photo Courtesy of Martin Lee via flickr.com
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