For hundreds of years, lighthouses have kept ships from running aground at the entrances of gorgeous bays and natural harbors. Regrettably, many of them have grown obsolete and have been replaced by more capable onboard navigational systems. The ones that are still operational are mostly automated and have more powerful lights and lenses than previous beacons.
Lighthouses are frequently quite recognizable landmarks because they were built to be visible: their shapes and colors stand out against the surrounding landscapes. As a result, they provide wonderful photo possibilities and are frequently located in breathtaking locations along craggy beaches or overlooking raging seas.
1: Portland Head Light
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Since 1791, the Portland Head Light has directed seafarers back to safety over the Atlantic’s harsh, wet, and windy waters. The historic lighthouse is located on a rocky clifftop near Cape Elizabeth, Maine, just south of Portland Harbor. Its white conical tower, which rises over 25 meters tall, stands out pleasantly against the bleak and jagged shoreline that surrounds it.
Despite the fact that it is now automated, tourists can visit the adjacent maritime museum to learn more about its fascinating history and hear terrible stories about the many ships that have sunk along Maine’s shoreline. Also, read Most Famous Mausoleums in the World.
2: Chania Lighthouse
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This charming lighthouse, which stands at the entrance of Chania’s historic harbor. It was first built by the Venetians at the end of the 16th century and was afterward renovated and reimagined by the Egyptians, Ottomans, and Greeks.
As a result, the lighthouse has a long and famous history, as indicated by its distinctive design. Chania Lighthouse is a renowned tourist destination because of its stunning architecture and beautiful setting with the city in the background.
3: Formentor lighthouse
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Formentor lighthouse, on Majorca’s northernmost coast, is one of the island’s most iconic and photographed attractions. The lighthouse, which stands 210 meters above sea level, is positioned on top of a towering cliff with precipitous slopes below it.
Since 1863, its blinding beacon of light, known in Spanish as Far de Formentor, has warned seafarers about the perilous Majorcan shoreline. The great natural beauty around it and the spectacular views out over the Mediterranean. Also, read 10 Most Famous Towers in the World.
4: Heceta Head Lighthouse
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Heceta Head Lighthouse is a beautiful sight, situated in a prominent and gorgeous location along the Oregon Coast. Its sparkling white tower, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean with dramatic-looking rocks below, is backed by beautiful forests that cascade down the mountain.
The lighthouse was first illuminated in 1894 and is named after Bruno Heceta, a Spanish explorer who cruised up and down the Pacific Northwest in the 1800s. Heceta Head Lighthouse, now a designated state scenic viewpoint, is well worth a visit for its magnificent views of the Oregon Coast and the Pacific Ocean.
5: Tower of Hercules
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The Tower of Hercules has stood sentinel above Spain’s North Atlantic coastline since the second century AD. This makes it the world’s oldest lighthouse still in operation. It is thought to have been modeled after the Lighthouse of Alexandria, This is the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Beacuse of its age.
The lighthouse’s 57-meter-high, robust, square tower, which was originally built by the Romans, was rebuilt and renovated in 1791. The Tower of Hercules is the most magnificent lighthouses in the world, not only because of its antiquity and construction but also because of its gorgeous setting on a peninsula in Galicia. Also, read 8 Most Beautiful Fjords of the World.
6: Lindesnes Lighthouse
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Lindesnes is Norway’s oldest lighthouse, located near the country’s southernmost point. The current lighthouse, with its distinctive white walls and red top, was built in 1915, however, the first iteration of the light station was built in 1656. Since then, it has served as a border between the North and Baltic Seas, as well as a warning to sailors about Norway’s treacherous shoreline.
Visitors can explore nearby trenches, tunnels, and a small fort that was commandeered by the Germans during World War II. Lindesnes Lighthouse, perched atop rugged cliffs with windswept waters in front of it, is a photographer’s dream.
7: Makapuu Point Lighthouse
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Makapuu Point Lighthouse, perched on the eastern tip of Oahu in Hawaii, is placed in one of the most beautiful settings imaginable, with the Pacific stretching out eternally before it. Despite being only 14 meters tall, the light from its tower may be seen from miles away due to its prominent location on a steep cliff.
These massive volcanic cliffs, with Makapuu Point Lighthouse, buried within them, provide for a striking image when combined with the vivid blue waters of the ocean below. The lighthouse, which was built in 1906, has long been vital in guiding ships from the west coast of the USA to Honolulu. Also, read World Famous Domes In the World.
8: Galle Lighthouse
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Since its construction in 1848, the lighthouse of the same name, which is located within the old walls of Galle Fort, has protected and the surrounding waters. While it is Sri Lanka’s oldest lighthouse, the current lighthouse’s blindingly bright white walls date only from 1939, when it was rebuilt following a disastrous fire.
Its excellent location at the entrance to Galle Harbor, surrounded by palm trees, makes it one of the most scenic and photographed sites in Galle.