Galle Lighthouse

Galle Lighthouse
Pointe de Galle

Galle Lighthouse
Sri Lanka
Location Galle Fort
Galle
Southern Province
Sri Lanka
Coordinates 6°01′28.48″N 80°13′09.76″E / 6.0245778°N 80.2193778°E / 6.0245778; 80.2193778
Year first constructed 1848 (first)
Year first lit 1939 (current)
Automated yes
Construction cast iron tower
Tower shape cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / pattern white tower and lantern
Height 26.5 metres (87 ft)
Focal height 28 metres (92 ft)
Light source mains power
Range 47 nautical miles (87 km; 54 mi)
Characteristic Fl (2) W 15s.
Admiralty number F0830
NGA number 27284
ARLHS number SLI-0018
Managing agent Sri Lanka Ports Authority[1]

Galle Lighthouse (also known as Pointe de Galle Light)[2] is an onshore Lighthouse in Galle, Sri Lanka and is operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.[3]

History

This is Sri Lanka's oldest light station[1] dating back to 1848,[2] but the original 24.5-metre-high (80 ft) lighthouse built by the British[4] was located about 100 metres (330 ft) from the current site; however, it was destroyed by fire in 1934.[2][1] The existing 26.5-metre-high (87 ft) lighthouse was erected here in 1939.[2][1] The original light was furnished with a glass prism lens floating in a bath of mercury (to reduce friction) and was powered by a weight driven machine.[5]

The light station is within the walls of the ancient Galle Fort, a UNESCO world heritage site and well known tourist attraction.[1] The lighthouse is strategically located at the southern end of the promontory, built approximately 6 metres (20 ft) above the road level on the ramparts, at what is known as the Point Utrecht Bastion, giving it full view of any ships entering Galle Harbour.

See also


References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Rowlett, Russ (13 February 2006). "Lighthouses of Sri Lanka". University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Galle Light". Lighthouse Explorer. Foghorn Publishing. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "List of Lighthouses in Sri Lanka". The Team Traveller. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  4. ↑ Sailing Directions for the West Coast of India - Issue 159. United States Hydrographic Office. 1920. p. 167.
  5. ↑ Sorila, Eero (2012). Lighthouses Big and Small. Xlibris Corporation. p. 28. ISBN 978-1-4691-8037-3.


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