Sunday, 29 January 2023

Lighthouses in South Africa

Lighthouses in South Africa

Cape Agulhas

The Cape Agulhas lighthouse is situated at the southern most tip of Africa, and celebrated its 150th birthday over three years ago.

Cape Columbine

Cape Columbine is approximately 2 and 1/2 hours drive from Cape Town situated on the west coast, about 3 km from the quaint fishing village of Paternoster.

Cape Hangklip

Although it is now an unmanned lighthouse, it is set on the picturesque coast about 1 and 1/2 hour drive from Cape Town.

Cape Hermes Port St Johns

Situated in Port St Johns, which is a small coastal town and known as the jewel of the Wild coast the Cape Hermes lighthouse was built using granite rocks quarried from nearby. The Cape Hermes Lighthouse, named after the HMS Hermes that surveyed the Pondoland coastal waters, warns passing ships of the rugged rock alcoves that line this bay of danger on the East Coast of South Africa. This Indian Ocean stretch is strewn with the remains of jewel carrying treasure ships sunk in the contours of the 'Jewel of the Wild Coast' namely Port St Johns. These waters are protected by a small stone lighthouse built in 1903, which shines one flash every three seconds, and is visible from 13 nautical miles. Situated in Port St Johns, a small coastal town, the Cape Hermes lighthouse was built using granite rocks quarried from nearby. The lighthouse is octagonal in shape, and acquired its name after the ship, HMS Hermes that undertook national surveys of the Pondoland coastal waters. It was constructed under the direction of H. C. Cooper. 

Cape Point

No, this is not the most Southern tip of Africa! A lot of people think it is. The light house you see here was the second light house, built 286 feet below the first which was erected on an iron tower.

Cape Recife Port Elizabeth

Cape Recife is situated at the southern entrance to Algoa Bay and warns mariners about the dangers which abound in the dark waters.

Cape St Blaize

Mossel Bay lies on the other side of a protruding cape, or point. In this case it is Cape St Blaize.

Cape Vidal

Situated in the Cape Vidal Forestry Reserve several kilometres north of the Umfolosi River on the Natal north coast is the unique Cape St Vidal lighthouse.

Danger Point

Situated on the Southern point of Walker Bay, near the village of Gansbaai, Danger Point originally named Ponte de Sao Brandao by Bartholomew Dias on 16 May 1488.

Dassen Island

Situated 55 km from Cape Town's Table Bay is arguably one of the most isolated and bleakest manned lighthouses, Dassen Island lighthouse.

Great Fish Point

The Great Fish Point lighthouse is situated at Great Fish Point near the mouth of the Great Fish River a mere 25 km from the coastal holiday resort of Port Alfred.

Green Point (Mouille Point), Cape Town

Green Point lighthouse was the first solidly constructed built on the South African coast, built on the north west point of the promontory bounding Table Bay, which was built by Herman Scutte who commenced work in 1920.

Green Point Clansthal, Amanzimtoti district

Green Point lighthouse should not be confused with the other Green Point lighthouse, also often known as Mouille Point lighthouse, in Cape Town. This Green Point lighthouse stands instead in Clansthal, KwaZulu Natal, helps warn ships of the Aliwal Shoal, and was the second last lighthouse to use petroleum vapour burners.

Hood Point

Hood Point lighthouse is situated on the outskirts of East London on the east coast of South Africa.

Milnerton

This lighthouse is situated in the suburb of Milnerton on the West Coast on the way to Cape Columbine.

Port Shepstone

The lighthouse is situated at the mouth of the Umzimkulu River on the Natal South Coast. The town was named after a well known statesman in native affairs, Sir Theophilus Shepstone.

Robben Island

Robben Island is a tiny island which lies 9 km to the north of Cape Town.

Roman Rock

Probably one of the most interesting lighthouses in Southern Africa is Roman Rock, which is situated in False Bay at the entrance to the historical naval harbour of Simon's Town.

Seal Point

Seal Point lighthouse is situated approximately 30 km from Humansdorp and 100 km from Port Elizabeth and is home to the tallest masonry building, standing 27.75 meters high.

Slangkop

Slangkop is the tallest cast-iron tower on the South African coast, located in Kommetjie, Cape Town.

St Lucia

The St Lucia Lighthouse is situated on a densely wooded sand dune, rising to a point of 113m above the sea on the northern side of the Umfolozi River in Kwazulu-Natal.

The Hill

The Hill lighthouse is situated in the Donkin Reserve almost in the city centre of Port Elizabeth and it was lit for the first time on 1st June 1861.

Umhlanga Rocks

The lighthouse on Umhlangas beach was completed in 1954 and has been the subject of numerous paintings and memorabilia.

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