Lighthouses have always been a mystery to us, especially to me. Whenever I used to visit a sea coast having an erected lighthouse, I used to wonder what was there within this tower. But these colossal towers were the main way of navigation to the sailors in the timeworn days. The question we will be addressing here today is What Information Is Most Important When Passing Near A Lighthouse.
I know those who are here now are looking for the right answer to this question. We have not only mentioned the answer here but also explained the reason behind it. So stay tuned with us and keep reading till the end.
What Information Is Most Important When Passing Near A Lighthouse?
What Information Is Most Important When Passing Near A Lighthouse? I know all of you are eagerly waiting for our answer. So here is it… The answer is Water Depth.
Yes, Water Depth is the most important factor a sailor needs to take care of while passing a lighthouse. Do you know the reason? It’s because the key purpose of the Lighthouse is to warn the sailors from dangerous rocky coasts and risky shallows. The messages of these long-trusted towers are: STAY AWAY, DANGER, BEWARE! or COME THIS WAY! As a result, whenever a vessel is passing near a lighthouse, it’s important to consider the depth of the water along the coast.
Do We Still Need Lighthouse?
Now you know “ What Information Is Most Important When Passing A Lighthouse? ” The next question that comes is – Whether lighthouses are still relevant today.
It was 7th August 1789 when the Lighthouse Act was approved by Congress. This was the first public works program that the-then new federal government undertook at that time. Therefore August 7 is recognizable now as National Lighthouse Day in the U.S.A.
Lighthouses are mainly found on sandy shoals on land, entrances to bays and harbors, and rocky ocean cliffs. While numerous lighthouses guide the seafarers still now, NOAA’s Nautical Charts, the Global Positioning System, buoys, radar beacon, and lighted navigational aids have replaced most of them.
The bottom line is the importance of the Lighthouse is definitely undeniable, however with technological advancement; it’s becoming obsolete.
4 Amazing Facts About Lighthouses
In the previous section, you learn a crucial fact about Lighthouses – What Information Is Most Important When Passing Near A Lighthouse? Here is some other information you should know simultaneously:
- Lighthouses have different colors so that mariners can identify them during the day.
- A lighthouse’s height depends on the curvature of the earth so that the lights are noticeable from far away
- Lighthouses that are close to each other have variable flash patterns allowing mariners to identify their locations.
- The majority of the active lighthouses these days work through remote monitoring and machines.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most important information while passing a lighthouse is Water Depth.
The word lighthouse consists of 2 more words – Light and House. It basically refers to a tall, sturdy structure built on the rock near the sea and used for the purpose of ship navigation. Since it guides the vessels to reach out and into the harbors by throwing lights in several directions, it’s called Lighthouse. The origin of the word dates back to the 1620s
The concept of lighthouses originated for the first time in Egypt. The first Lighthouse in the world is the Pharos of Alexandria. Ptolemy I and his son Ptolemy II constructed it between 300 and 280 B.C. It stands at about 450 feet high. This particular Lighthouse is one of the Seven Wonders in the ancient world.
There is a reason why lighthouses don’t fall. It’s mainly because they are chiseled very precisely, interlocking the granite blocks. These blocks resist the crashing sea waves.
The Takeaway
What Information Is Most Important When Passing Near A Lighthouse? The answer you were looking for is Water Depth. It’s true that lighthouses were one of the main navigation aids sailors had in the early days. However, in the current era, there are already various complex instruments that sailors and marine engineers make use of.
A large number of lighthouses across the world are preserved as Tourist spots; nevertheless, their importance cannot be denied.
Do you have any further questions for us? Do not hesitate to let us know in the comment area below.
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