Since ancient times, when the lighthouse of Alexandria began to beam over the island of Faros from the bonfire, the lighthouses have become a symbol of reliability and safety. The blinking light of lanterns, seen by sailors in the raging sea, meant for them salvation, and the hope of feeling under their feet the solid surface of the earth. We will set off along the surging waves of history and modernity to see the most beautiful lighthouses in the world, which can rightfully be called masterpieces of architecture.
1
Alexandria Lighthouse (Egypt, PRC)
Let's start with the lighthouse, which was built at the end of the IV-beginning of the III century BC, on the island of Faros, which is not far from Alexandria of Egypt. The order to build the lighthouse was given personally by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. during his visit to Egypt.
In the photo: The fortress, which is located on the site of the destroyed Alexandria Lighthouse
The total height of the structure was approximately 135 m., And its directional light was visible at a distance of 51 km. With its help, all ships heading to Egypt could easily bypass the reefs and safely enter the bay of Alexandria.
In the photo: An exact copy of the lighthouse in Changsha
The Alexandria lighthouse on Faros over time was recognized as one of the 7 wonders of the world, and in 2015, the development of a project to restore the ancient architectural monument began. But you can see the ancient lighthouse in the Chinese city of Changsha, where they built an exact copy of it.
2
La Vieille and Thevenneux (France)
Off the Atlantic coast of France, not far from the city of Brest, many reefs and rocky islands protrude from the sea. To secure the entrance of the ships in the middle of the 19th century, a magnificent lighthouse La Vieille was built on one of the rocky ledges.
For many years he has been helping ships bypass reefs on the high seas, but over time it turned out that his light was not enough. In 1875, the equally beautiful Tevenenek lighthouse was erected to help him on a nearby reef ledge.
Two brothers form a kind of Atlantic security gate, through which ships easily enter the bay and port of Brest.
3
Aniva (Russia)
An abandoned lighthouse was built on Cape Aniva of Sakhalin Island in 1939, and in 1990, due to difficult living conditions, personnel were removed and atomic isotopic elements were installed on the lighthouse.
The creator of the complex structure on the rocky ledge was Miura Sinobu. The tower has a height of 31 meters and rises above sea level by 40 meters, because of which light was visible for 28 kilometers. On three floors of the tower, living rooms were equipped, which could accommodate up to 12 people.
The beautiful atomic lighthouse on the rock of Sivuchei stopped working in 2006, the equipment was stolen, and the project adopted for its reconstruction is still on paper.
4
La Goumien (France)
At the very edge of the Iruaz Sea, where the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel originate, the tower of the harsh and monumental lighthouse “La Jument” rises above the islands of Wessan and the Moulins, whose height is 100 m.
The waters off the coast of Brittany have always been considered the most dangerous, and severe storms interfered with the construction of the lighthouse. It took 7 years for a tall and beautiful lighthouse to light the way for ships bound for the shores of France at the end of the 19th century.
“La Zhumien” and his caretaker Theodore Malgorne were glorified all over the world by photographs of Jean Guichard, who captured a large wave from a helicopter during a severe storm covering the observation deck on which the caretaker was located.
5
Kereon (Wessan, France)
This masterpiece of architecture, erected on the open sea, is also called the “Sea Palace”, because the interior design with a twisted wrought iron staircase and wood-trimmed rooms really look like the halls of the palace.
Naturally, the beacons of the lighthouse were not timid, for several weeks being alone in the middle of the ocean. In 2004, the last caretaker left him, and the lighthouse became fully automated.
The stone tower towering between the islands of Wessan and the Moulins is considered to be a unique architectural monument, in addition, it was the last inhabited lighthouse.
6
Fare du Petit Minoux (Brittany, France)
Another French lighthouse, built on a promontory overlooking the open sea, is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe.
Its light indicates a safe way for sea vessels at the entrance to the harbor of the city of Brest. In addition to the usual flickering light, it can simply burn with red light, which many times increases the distance from which its light is visible.
A paved road leads here along the very edge of the cape, and a majestic arch is thrown across the islets. The result was a surprisingly beautiful architectural complex.
7
Skrypleva Lighthouse (Russia)
At the southern end of a small island named after the captain of the corvette Novik, a beautiful lighthouse is built, which received the same name as the island.
The island itself is located in the Gulf of Peter the Great, and the lighthouse points the way for ships bound for the port of Vladivostok. Not far from the picturesque island is the Basargin lighthouse.
Note that this is the oldest lighthouse in Russia, built back in 1865, and among others, this building received the unofficial name of Korochka.
8
Tarkhankutsky (Crimea)
Presenting the lighthouses of Crimea, one can not help but pay attention to the most beautiful tower on Cape Tarkhankut. The construction is conveniently located in the westernmost tip of the peninsula, and has been leading its glorious history since 1816.
During the modernization in 1824, the lamp at the top of the tower was made movable, and it got the opportunity to rotate around its axis. Thus, the light became visible to all ships passing by the cape.
The engineering structure built at the beginning of the 19th century turned out to be so strong that it withstood the strongest earthquake of 1927.
9
Yenikalsky (Crimea)
But on Cape Fanar in the easternmost point of Crimea in 1820, he began to illuminate the way for ships passing through the Kerch Strait, Yenikalsky lighthouse.
Unfortunately, the first building did not survive the events of the Great Patriotic War, and the old tower was destroyed by shelling.
In 1953, a beautiful new structure was erected on this site. A beautiful white-stone tower rises above the strait, and a technical observation post of the Russian Federation is located very close by.
10
St. Joseph's Lighthouse (Michigan, United States)
Built on a pier that extends far into the waters of Lake Michigan, the lighthouse was named after a river flowing nearby, and possibly a small town in the US state. It began to function in 1907, although navigation devices worked here much earlier.
For better navigation on the lake in 1859, a magnificent rounded tower was built, which pointed the way to the ships. At the top of the tower, a cast-iron structure was installed, in which the light source was located.
Particularly amazing landscapes can be observed in winter, when frozen waves fetter with bizarre figures the Michigan lighthouse.
11
Victoria Beach Lighthouse (California, USA)
From northern Michigan we set off for sunny California, where a magnificent lighthouse was erected on Victoria Beach in 1926.
A tower was built on a rocky beach, and during a storm and coastal haze from the spray, there is a feeling that just a tired sailor leaned on a rock to rest after a difficult swim.
It is interesting that the lighthouse was erected not at the top of the cliff, but under it, and today, perhaps, it is one of the most beautiful lighthouses in North America, and the entire western hemisphere.
12
Turlitis (Greece)
It would seem that the maritime power of Greece, which has a glorious tradition of navigation, and in this country there is only one lighthouse, built in 1887, right on the open sea.
It was erected on a rock of the same name, near the island of Andros, directly opposite the Venetian fortress. The seven-meter tower rises above the water, and shows the way for passing ships.
It was destroyed during the Nazi bombing, but again restored to its original form. The stone steps leading to the very top of the unique stone tower in the open sea were also restored.
13
Gamova Lighthouse (Russia)
Located among the picturesque cliffs on the cape of the same name, the building today is a real architectural monument. It is named after the midshipman of noble origin Dmitry Gamov, the same name and the peninsula.
It was built within 5 years, and the first stone was laid in the foundation in 1901. Ships began to focus on its light at the very beginning of 1906.
It is noteworthy that the tower was created from local stone, but the forest had to be conducted from afar. From the observation deck, which is still operating today, the lighthouse offers magnificent views of the bay.
14
Kermovan (France)
This monumental lighthouse looks like a medieval fortress with a high watchtower. Since 1994, it has been remotely controlled, and its light points the way for ships passing the Atlantic coast of France.
It was built on Cape Kermovan in 1849, and today it is one of the oldest lighthouses in Europe. Over its long history, it has withstood more than one test by the elements and severe storms.
This is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Brittany, and photographers come here to take great pictures.
15
Storozhensky lighthouse (Russia)
The first lighthouses in Ladoga appeared at the beginning of the XIX century, and in 1906, according to the reconstruction plan, a high stone lighthouse was erected near the village of Storozhno.
Today, a beautiful stone giant is the second highest among similar structures in Russia. A beautiful spiral staircase leads to a tower 71 meters high, and from the top there are wonderful views of the surroundings and the lake itself.
The lighthouse on Cape Storozhensky, by its construction and history of operation, can rightfully lead the list, which includes the famous lighthouses of Russia.
16
Vijinyam Lighthouse (Kerala, India)
Vijinyam is located near Kovalam Beach in Kerala. It began to function on June 30, 1972. Vijinyam was a popular seaport in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It was the first lighthouse built in the region. But by the beginning of the 20th century, this port of Viginjam fell into decay and was abandoned.
17
Lindau Lighthouse (Germany)
This is the southernmost "lantern" in Germany and it is located on Lake Constance. The medieval tower, built in 1856, even has a clock! The Germans are very sensitive to this building, so it has not lost its beauty at all.
Hercules Tower (La Coruna, Spain)
This is the only active lighthouse in the world, built during the Roman Empire. Just think, he is already almost 2000 years old, and all this time he has been helping the sailors to not get lost in the waters of the Betanzos Gulf of the Atlantic Ocean.
The height of the structure is 55 meters, and the coast on which it is built another 57 meters rises above sea level. The complex of buildings is a monument of national importance of Spain and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
18
Cape Byron Light (Byron, Australia)
The building, built in 1899 in the colonial style, is the easternmost "guide" of the Australian continent. Its height from the base is 23 meters.
19
Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse (Jörring, Denmark)
This lighthouse is surrounded by high sand dunes. However, when it was built at the beginning of the 20th century, there was no sand nearby, and it was much further from the coast than now. Over the years, the sea was getting closer and closer, and the wind blew so much sand that at times the light of the lanterns was barely noticeable.
20
Les Eclaireurs (Argentina)
Les Eclaireurs is located on the southern tip of Argentina and is known for the fact that penguins and walruses often go ashore nearby. The height of the building is 11 meters, it is a cone-shaped brick tower in traditional red and white colors.
The lighthouse stands on a small island of green mossy rock, it was built in 1920 and is still operating today. In the background are the snow-capped peaks of the Patagonian mountains.
21
Jose Ignacio (Argentina)
This tower was built in 1877, and was named after the first Spanish settler living on the shores of southern Uruguay. Its sandy color is very combined with the surrounding cliffs and dunes.
Interesting Facts
In conclusion, according to the already established good tradition of the site most-beauty.ru, we present some amazing facts related to lighthouses.
- January 18 is celebrating Lighthouse Day all over the world, but this is more related to psychology, when people light a candle on this window sill that day, a lamp in a dark room to find something spiritual, to illuminate the path of the lost.
- A unique phenomenon that occurs at the confluence of Katatumbo into Lake Maracaibo, which in Venezuela, in the form of sparkling lightning was called the “Maracaibo Lighthouse”. It is hard to imagine, but for every square kilometer there are 250 lightnings per year.
- The very first lighthouse, officially noted in historical documents, was built in the 7th century BC, on Cape Sigeum at the Hellespont Strait.
- But the most ancient lighthouse, now existing, was built by the Romans in 100 BC, at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, and it is called the Tower of Hercules.
- In ancient times, besides real lighthouses, false ones were built. To lure enemy ships aground or reefs.
So we presented the most famous lighthouses of the world ... Though not all, but we tried! As you can see, modern lighthouses work autonomously, and such a romantic profession as a lighthouse keeper is becoming a thing of the past. Stone giants towering above the sea waves easily withstand the most severe storms, helping ships navigate in the darkness, and it is easy to find the entrance to the bay or go through straits dotted with reefs and rocky ledges.
Article author: Valery Skiba