Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tall building that sends out light for use in navigation. Lighthouses are built on the coast of an ocean or lake. The lighthouse protects ships from crashing into shore, by sending the light out towards the sea. When sailors see the light, they know to avoid hitting the shore. The light usually turns in a circle so that ships see a flashing light. The light is usually covered by a Fresnel lens. This lens enables the light to travel a far distance.
One of the most famous lighthouses was the Lighthouse of Alexandria. It was on an island near the coast. That island was called Pharos. Even today, in many languages, the word for lighthouse comes from the name of the island.
Almost all lighthouses are automatic now.
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Lighthouse Media
Barnegat Lighthouse at the coast of Ocean County, New Jersey, U.S., facing the Atlantic Ocean at sunrise
Aerial drone footage of the Roman Rock Lighthouse off the southern coast of South Africa.
The Tower of Hercules lighthouse in north-western Spain
Original Winstanley lighthouse, Eddystone Rock, by Jaaziell Johnston, 1813.
John Smeaton's rebuilt version of the Eddystone Lighthouse, 1759. This represented a great step forward in lighthouse design.
Marjaniemi Lighthouse, the 19th-century lighthouse in the Hailuoto island, neighbouring municipality of Oulu, Finland
Diagram depicting how a spherical Fresnel lens collimates light
Cape Meares Lighthouse in Oregon; first-order Fresnel lens
