Negril Lighthouse

Negril Lighthouse
Map
LocationNegril Point
Westmoreland
Jamaica[4]
Coordinates18°14′54″N 78°21′38″W / 18.2484318°N 78.3605111°W / 18.2484318; -78.3605111[1]
Tower
Constructed1894[2]
Foundationa 14 feet (4.3 m) deep tank of water for balance and security during earthquakes[2]
Constructionreinforced concrete tower[4]
Automatedyes[3]
Height27 metres (89 ft)[3]
Shapetapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markingswhite tower and lantern[2]
Power sourcesolar power Edit this on Wikidata
Heritagenational monument Edit this on Wikidata
Light
Focal height31 metres (102 ft)[4]
Range15 nmi (28 km; 17 mi) Edit this on Wikidata
CharacteristicOne flash every 2 s, alternating red and white[4]

Negril Lighthouse was built in 1894 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south south east of the westernmost tip of the island of Jamaica by the French company Barber & Bernard.[2] It is one of the earliest concrete lighthouses.[4]

Fresnel lens in operation at Negril Point

Its foundation is a tank 14 feet (4.3 m) deep, which is kept filled with water to keep the 20-metre (66 ft)[2] (27 metres (89 ft) according to Rowlett)[4] reinforced concrete tower balanced and secured in the event of an earthquake.[2] The tower is topped with a lantern and gallery.[4]

An automatic white light 30 m (100 feet) above sea level flashes every two seconds.[4] The light was operated by gas initially, switching to acetylene in 1956 and solar energy in 1985.[2][3]

Several adjacent one-story frame keeper's houses are staffed.[4]

The site is a well-known attraction of the Negril area.[4]

It is maintained by the Port Authority of Jamaica, an agency of the Ministry of Transport and Works.[4]

  1. ^ UK Directorate of Overseas Surveys 1:50,000 map of Jamaica (12 sheets), 1958-1973.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Negril Point Lighthouse Archived 2011-06-29 at the Wayback Machine, Jamaica National Heritage Trust, 2005.
  3. ^ a b c Negril Point Lighthouse, Frans Eijgenraam, 2000.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rowlett, Russ (2008-10-20). "Lighthouses of Jamaica". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.