Cape Agulhas Lighthouse

Cape Agulhas Lighthouse
Cape Agulhas Lighthouse
Map
LocationL'Agulhas, Western Cape, South Africa
Coordinates34°49′46″S 20°00′32″E / 34.829389°S 20.008911°E / -34.829389; 20.008911
Tower
Constructed1848 (first lit 1849)
Constructionsandstone tower
Height27 m (89 ft)
Shapecylindrical tower with balcony and lantern rising from one-story keeper's house
Markingsred tower with a white band, white lantern
Power sourcemains electricity Edit this on Wikidata
OperatorSouth African National Parks[1]
HeritageHistoric Civil Engineering Landmark Edit this on Wikidata
Light
First lit1 March 1849 Edit this on Wikidata
Deactivated1968–1988
Focal height31 m (102 ft)
Lens1st order Fresnel
Intensity7,500,000 cd
Range30 nmi (56 km; 35 mi)
CharacteristicFl W 5s

The Cape Agulhas Lighthouse is at Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa. At 171 years old, it is the third-built lighthouse in South Africa, and the second-oldest still operating, after Green Point.[2] It is located on the southern edge of the village of L'Agulhas, in the Agulhas National Park; the light is operated by Transnet National Ports Authority. In 2016, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) identified the lighthouse as a deserving prominent historic engineering project and International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

  1. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Western South Africa". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  2. ^ "Cape Agulhas Lighthouse Celebrates 150th Anniversary". Lighthouse Digest. May 1999. Retrieved 18 June 2011.[permanent dead link]