Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Green Point Lighthouse, Natal




The main purpose of the construction of the Green Point Lighthouse was to indicate to mariners the extremities of the dangerous submerged mass of rock known as the Aliwal Shoal. The latter is about 4 kilometres long and one kilometre wide and has caused the death of many a fine ship.

Brought into operation in 1905, the lighthouse was fitted with a 700 mm focal distance, group flashing optic exhibiting 2 white flashes every fifteen seconds. The lighthouse has an extra feature - a subsidiary sector light showing a fixed red light over an arc covering the extremities of the Aliwal Shoal.

It was the first lighthouse in Natal to be fully automated in November 1961.

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