Lighthouse

Beacons, most often situated on a coast, help watercraft avoid disaster while also guiding them to a friendly port. They come in all shapes and sizes, and each has a story to tell. Learn about these iconic sentinels of the sea (and lakes).

Oceanside, Iceland

Öndverðarnes Lighthouse

Situated on the westernmost point on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, this quaint lighthouse is surrounded by rocky ruins and grassy hills

Anatoliki Mani, Greece

Lighthouse Tenaro

If you’re an Ancient Greek, though, you’d give this abyss a more… creative description: the gate to the Underworld.

Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Cape Spear Lighthouse

It was a foggy morning on the easternmost point of North America. The route to the wharf was primed for celebration — but disaster was about to strike.

Presented with

Taranaki, New Zealand

Cape Egmont Lighthouse

Originally built in 1865, this lighthouse was dismantled and moved to Cape Egmont after it was mistaken for another lighthouse.

Busan, South Korea

Yeongdo Lighthouse

This lighthouse is built near a forest once used for archery by an ancient king.

La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain

Fuencaliente Lighthouse

Though the active volcano on this Spanish Island might give you pause, the sights, wines, and beaches are like as Siren's call.

Látrabjarg, Iceland

Bjargtangar Lighthouse

The westernmost structure in Europe, and the only permanent building on Látrabjarg, Iceland’s largest seabird cliff.

Vashon, Washington, United States

Point Robinson Light

This historic lighthouse was saved from a land dispute in the 1990s.

Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada

Point Abino Light Tower

The last lighthouse to be automated in all of Ontario, and for the longest time could only be reached by "wading through the shallows."

Presented with

Woody Point, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Woody Point Lighthouse

This wooden light house continues to serve as a navigational aid for fishing communities in Newfoundland, Canada.

Port Townsend, Washington, United States

Point Wilson Lighthouse

During WW1, an illustrious lightkeeper cultivated an abundant Victory Garden at this Washington state lighthouse.

Magnisi Peninsula, Sicily, Italy

Magnisi Lighthouse

Situated next to ancient burial grounds has drawn grave robbers to this Sicilian lighthouse.

Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia

Black Lighthouse

A lighthouse that was attacked by a foe that it didn't expect.

Andros, Greece

Tourlitis Lighthouse

Greece's first automated lighthouse looks like it was carved out of a fantasy novel.

Cape Town, South Africa

Green Point Lighthouse

The Green Point Lighthouse in Cape Town, South Africa, was lit in April 1824, and is the oldest operational lighthouse in South Africa.

Evanston, Illinois, United States

Grosse Point Light

Though no longer active, the keeper’s house now operates as a maritime museum.

Prince Edward Island, Canada

West Point Lighthouse

Upon first sight, the black-and-white-striped square-tapered tower design of West Point Lighthouse is geometrically striking in its natural habitat.

Nova Scotia, Canada

Cape George Lighthouse

Over 107 years, six different lightkeepers manned this lighthouse before it was rebuilt and automated in 1968.

Pouto Peninsula, New Zealand

Pouto Lighthouse

The Pouto Lighthouse is New Zealand's oldest wooden lighthouse made of kauri timber.

Marathon, Florida, United States

Faro Blanco Lighthouse

This lighthouse in the Florida Keys keeps has served as a residence and office as well as an unofficial private navigator for boats.

County Down, Northern Ireland, Ireland

Donaghadee Lighthouse

Before the Donaghadee Lighthouse was built, young Northern Irish couples looking to marry legally in Scotland would depart from the Donaghadee Harbor.

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

New Canal Light

The New Canal Light in New Orleans has been operated by a long series of lightkeepers, and notably, many were women.

Lake Vanern, Sweden

Hammarö Skage

Of the nearly thirty lighthouses on Lake Vänern, this lighthouse employs a residential design with a lake house-style structure as its base.

Porto, Portugal

Farol de Felgueiras

Situated at the Mouth of the Douro River, this lighthouse welcomes ships to the ancient Portuguese city of Porto.

Quadra Island, Canada

Cape Mudge Lighthouse

This Canadan Lighthouse has been standing on Quadra Island since the days of the Klondike goldrush.

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