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- Re: Lighthouses of the world
Lighthouses of the world
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Lighthouses of the world
There are over 20,000 functioning ligIhthouses around the world. I have seen about 75 of them over the years.
Many of them on the Pacific coast and the Great Lakes
Sorry it took so long to set up this next topic!
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Poplar Point Lighthouse history
The Poplar Point Lighthouse in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, has a rich history dating back to 1831. Here's a brief overview:
# Key Events
1. *Construction and Lighting*: Built with a stone keeper's dwelling and a wooden tower, the lighthouse was first lit in 1831 with eight Argand lamps and reflectors.
2. *Upgrades*: In 1855, the lamps were replaced with a sixth-order steamer lens.
3. *Deactivation*: The light was deactivated in 1882 and replaced by the Wickford Harbor Light.
4. *Private Ownership*: The lighthouse was sold at auction in 1894 to Albert R. Sherman and has since undergone changes under subsequent owners.
5. *Historic Recognition*: It's the oldest surviving wooden lighthouse tower in the US and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
The Poplar Point Lighthouse holds significant historical value, and its preservation is a testament to its importance in maritime history.
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Some lighthouses feature a fog horn along with their beacon. Wind Point is one that is located on Wisconsin lake Michigan shore.
The Wind Point Lighthouse in Racine, WI, has a historic foghorn system that once used steam-powered compressed air to project a powerful sound warning ships of danger in foggy conditions. The original foghorns, mounted in the Foghorn Building, are still visible today, though they were silenced by the Coast Guard in 1965. The foghorn system was designed to be heard up to 10 miles out on Lake Michigan.
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A handsome portrait of isolated Trowbridge Island Light, Ontario, Canada on Lake Superior. This light is under the care of the non-profit group Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior which is running several tours out to the island this summer. - Photo courtesy of Paul Morralee, Managing Director of the Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior (www.clls.ca)
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How many lighthouses are on the Great Lakes
There are approximately 388 lighthouses around the Great Lakes, with around 300 still active as aids to navigation. Here's a breakdown of the number of lighthouses by state and province ยน:
- *Lighthouses by State:*
- *Michigan*: 109 lighthouses, the most of any state
- *Wisconsin*: 39 lighthouses
- *New York*: 21 lighthouses
- *Ohio*: 14 lighthouses
- *Illinois*: 8 lighthouses
- *Indiana*: 6 lighthouses
- *Minnesota*: 7 lighthouses
- *Pennsylvania*: 2 lighthouses
- *Lighthouses by Province:*
- *Ontario*: 94 lighthouses
- *Lighthouses by Lake:*
- *Lake Michigan*: 97-102 lighthouses
- *Lake Huron*: 95 lighthouses
- *Lake Superior*: 75 lighthouses
- *Lake Erie*: 68 lighthouses
- *Lake Ontario*: 53 lighthouses
Some sources estimate over 200 active lighthouses, while others mention around 267 constructed on the U.S. shores of the Great Lakes. The exact number may vary depending on the source and criteria for inclusion.
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The Kincardine Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse located in Kincardine, Ontario, near the mouth of the Penetangore River. Built in 1881, it is 24.4 metres (74 feet) tall and was built above the light keeper's home. The tower is eight sided and sits on a stone foundation. The facility has been renovated and is now the Kincardine Yacht Club and a museum.
Photo credit: k8ee bee ๐ธ
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Lake Light. Rawley Point Lighthouse.
Manitowoc County, WI.
A major feature of Point Beach is Rawley Point and the lighthouse operated by the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard has operated a lighthouse here since 1853.
The first lighthouse was a brick tower and home that served mariners until 1894, when a new steel tower was installed.
The light is atop this steel tower that rises 113 feet above the lake surface and is one of the largest and brightest on the Great Lakes. It is visible up to 19 miles away and operates from a half hour before sunset until a half hour after sunrise.
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Lighthouse staircases are typically spiral staircases that wind their way up the interior of the tower. They are often constructed of iron, and can feature numerous landings for resting. The number of steps can vary greatly, with some lighthouses having over 200 steps.
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Coast Guard station at Brookings, Oregon with a cruiser pulling into the harbor. My sister lives in Brookings. My brother-in-law and I were out fishing when the fuel pump went out and we were able to call them to come and pull us in to the harbor. What a wild ride that was!
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A.L.๐ผ๐ผLongstone Lighthouse is an active 19th century lighthouse located on Longstone Rock in the outer group of the Farne Islands off the Northumberland Coast, England. Completed in 1826, it was originally called the Outer Farne Lighthouse, and complemented the earlier Inner Farne Lighthouse. The lighthouse is best known for the 1838 wreck of the Forfarshire and the role of Grace Darling, the lighthouse keeper's daughter, in rescuing survivors.
Photo credit: Pink Bow photography ๐ท
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The Fresnel Lens:
The heart of a lighthouse!
In the 1700 and 1800โs open water shipping was the lifeline of commerce โ it was the only way to transport goods between the continents, but it wasnโt easy. Among the many difficulties was the problem of ships, and all of their precious cargo running aground and being smashed on unseen rocks.
This necessity brought about the creation and design of many lighthouses on the coastlines, which would let ocean navigators see when they were getting too close to dangerous outcrops. The issue was, the lights were essentially a large candle or oil lamp, and many times they were so dim that when the boat Captain saw the light, it was already too late. So scientists of the day searched for ways to focus and project the light much further.
French physicist and engineer Augustin-Jean Fresnel developed the multi-part Fresnel lens for use in lighthouses. His design allowed for the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length, without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design. A Fresnel lens can be made much thinner than a comparable conventional lens, in some cases taking the form of a flat sheet. A Fresnel lens can also capture more oblique light from a light source, thus allowing the light from a lighthouse equipped with one, to be visible over greater distances.
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Florence Oregon, Lighthouse! Heceta Head Lighthouse is a working 19th-century lighthouse is now home to a B&B with 6 rooms offering scenic views.
We were able to walk the beach next to this lighthouse some years ago.
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A.L.๐ผ๐ผDonaghadee Lighthouse is a lighthouse in Donaghadee County Down, Northern Ireland. Donaghadee is probably best known for its lighthouse and harbour. There has been a haven for ships at Donaghadee (locally known colloquially as the 'Dee') for centuries, and there has also existed a harbour since at least the 17th century.
Constructed 1836

