Thursday 3 November 2022

Namibia: Diaz Point & Shark Island Lighthouses, Lüderitz Bay

Diaz Point Lighthouse, Lüderitz Bay, Namibia

Position: -26.635697, 15.152507

International Reg. D 5600

Scope: 22 sm

In operation since 1910

tower height: 35 m

light height: 52 m

Dias Point (2)

1915 (station established 1903). Active; focal plane 53 m; white flash every 10 s; also a passing light at focal plane 50 m; continuous white or red light depending on direction. 28 m round tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a 1-story hexagonal stone base. The tower is painted with red and white horizontal bands. A fog horn (one 2 s blast every 20 s) is located 450 m north. An older fog signal tower also survives. Also nearby is a stone cross commemorating the landing here by the Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias in 1487. Damien du Toit's photo is above, Trabas has Hartmann's photo, Brian McMorrow has a portfolio of photos, a 2012 closeup is available, and Google has a satellite view. Forand has a postcard view of the original lighthouse, a short square masonry tower, and Wikimedia has a photo showing both lighthouses. Dias Point shelters Robert Harbor, the bay of Lüderitz. Located on heights about 500 m south of the tip of the point. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS NAM-002; Admiralty D5600; NGA 25788.

** Shark Island (1)

1903. Inactive. Approx. 12 m square cylindrical tower with gallery attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Lantern removed. The building has been repainted buff with green trim. Andrew Haliburton's photo is at right, Wikimedia has a closeup photo by Peter Stenglein, another photo is available, Lee Knez has a 2021 drone view, Elsabe Wiese de Wet has a street view, and Google has a satellite view. The old lighthouse is now incorporated in a resort and has several rooms available for overnight accommodations. Now joined to the mainland at its south end, Shark Island shelters the small harbor of Lüderitz. Located at the highest point of the "island" and accessible by road. Site open, lighthouse open to guests. Owner: Namibia Wildlife Resorts. Site manager: Shark Island Resort. ARLHS NAM-005.

* Shark Island (2)

Date unknown (station established 1903). Active; focal plane 34 m; white, red, or green light depending on direction, 2.5 s on, 7.5 s off. Approx. 15 m square pyramidal skeletal tower with gallery, painted white. Andrew Haliburton's photo is above right, Lightphotos.net has a closeup, Trabas has Hartmann's photo, and Forand has an amateur radio QSL card showing both lighthouses. Located a short distance seaward of the historic lighthouse. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty D5606; NGA 25808.

* Robert Harbor Range Rear

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 23 m; red flash every 2 s. Approx. 16 m square cylindrical skeletal tower carrying a rectangular daymark colored red with a yellow stripe. Trabas has Hartmann's photo, and Google has a satellite view. This is the entrance range for the harbor. The front light is on a similar, shorter tower. Located on the mainland opposite Shark Island. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty D5607.1; NGA 25796.

Purchase photo/4K video: portfolio1 portfolio2
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