Georgetown Lighthouse, Guyana
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| Location | Water Street, Georgetown, Guyana[1] |
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| Coordinates | 6°49′25″N 58°09′52″W / 6.8236966°N 58.1643569°WCoordinates: 6°49′25″N 58°09′52″W / 6.8236966°N 58.1643569°W[2] |
| Year first lit | 1817[1] |
| Automated | Clockwork[1] |
| Foundation | Forty nine greenheart piles |
| Construction | Stone[1] |
| Tower shape | Octagonal[1] |
| Markings / pattern | Red and white vertical stripes[1] |
| Focal height | 70 feet (21 m)[1] |
| Characteristic | Flash every 60s, red or white depending on direction.[1] |
| Admiralty number | J6841[1] |
| NGA number | 17292[1] |
| ARLHS number | GUY-001[1] |
The Georgetown Lighthouse was first built by the Dutch in 1817 and then rebuilt in 1830 to help guide ships into the Demerara River from the Atlantic Ocean. The 31 m (103 feet) high octagonal structure is a famous Georgetown, Guyana landmark with its distinct vertical red and white stripes. The Lighthouse, located on Water Street, is a National Monument.[3]
The brick structure was commissioned on 1 June 1830, when it replaced a wooden lighthouse that had been built on the same site by the Dutch. British engineers constructed the present lighthouse, reinforcing the building by placing it on a foundation of 49 greenheart piles, making it durable nearly 200 years later.
A floating light was placed at the Demerara bar in March 1838 and a system of signalling to the lighthouse was established. On 27 February 1838 a Committee of Pilotage was formed and entrusted with the signalling. Before establishment of the System of Signalling, a beacon had been erected on the East Coast Demerara and vessels entering had to contribute to the cost of constructing the beacon.
About a half mile east of Fort Groyne there was a block house which was used as a signal station for vessels arriving, and for signalling to Berbice. The coastal signalling was done by semaphore stations.
A steel balcony at the top of the Lighthouse offers a panoramic view of Georgetown and West Coast Demerara.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rowlett, Russ (2009-01-12). "Lighthouses of Guyana". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/guy.htm.
- ^ Wikimapia.
- ^ "The Lighthouse". Monument Watch. Georgetown, Guyana: National Trust of Guyana. 2002-10. http://www.nationaltrust.gov.gy/trustnewsc.html. Retrieved 2009-11-14.[dead link]
[edit] External links
- The Georgetown Lighthouse.
- Aerial view.
- Photos.
- Georgetown Lighthouse, National Trust of Guyana, 2002-10.
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