Lighthouse

A lighthouse is “a fully or partially enclosed built structure bearing a light that is used as a navigational aid, and that is capable of admitting at least one person to operate or maintain the light entirely from within” [1]. Lighthouses in the past were widely used to help travelers navigate their way to land when facing treacherous weather. Visibility from rain and storms can be greatly affected; the light from a lighthouse is designed to be bright enough to shine through the rain cover and give travelers a sense of direction. Due to the advancement of technology of sea vessels equipped with complex navigational systems, the role of lighthouses is changing.

However, many frequent travelers don’t see the harm in continuing use of lighthouses, some stating that “they can be used by vessels with no special equipment on board, providing the ultimate backup against the failure of more sophisticated systems” [2]. When lighthouses are no longer used they are now classified as historic lighthouses, floating buoys with lights on them are usually substituted for these retired lighthouses.

References

[1] Ken Trethewey. (2019, November 5). What Is A Lighthouse? A Modern Definition. Retrieved (2021, July 20), from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337022124_What_Is_A_Lighthouse_A_Modern_Definition

[2] Encyclopedia Britannica. (2019, March 5). Lighthouse. Retrieved (2021, July 20), from https://www.britannica.com/technology/lighthouse