Galle Lighthouse

The 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] This is Sri Lanka's oldest light station.[1]

Galle Lighthouse
Pointe de Galle
Galle Lighthouse
Sri Lanka
LocationGalle Fort
Galle
Southern Province
Sri Lanka
Coordinates6°01′28.48″N 80°13′09.76″E
Year first constructed1848 (first)
Year first lit1939 (current)
Automatedyes
Constructionconcrete and stone
Tower shapecylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / patternwhite tower and lantern
Tower height26.5 metres (87 ft)
Focal height28 metres (92 ft)
Light sourcemains power
Range47 nautical miles (87 km; 54 mi)
CharacteristicFl (2) W 15s.
Admiralty numberF0830
NGA number27284
ARLHS numberSLI-0018
Managing agentSri Lanka Ports Authority[1]

History

Philippus Baldaeus, a Dutch minister who served in the area in the late 1650s, detailed his observations of Galle Harbour, in his work, Description of the East India, Malabar and Coromandel Coasts, stating that there was an iron cannon placed on the ramparts and a lantern to guide the sailors on top of the 28 feet above sea level rock which jutted out into the sea.

The first lighthouse at Galle was built by the British in 1848.[2][4] It was a 24.4-metre-high (80 ft) iron lighthouse,[4][5] constructed from cast-iron plates, imported from England, designed by British architect Alexander Gordon and erected by Messrs. Robinson, Engineers of Pimlico.[6][7] The lighthouse, painted white, was located on the southwest bastion, Utrtecht Bastion, of Galle fort on the western side of Galle Harbor. It had a fixed point light with prolate reflectors, which was visible for 19 kilometres (12 mi).[6][8][9] In July 1936 it was destroyed by fire.[1][2]

The current 26.5-metre-high (87 ft) concrete lighthouse was erected about 100 metres (330 ft) from the original site in 1939.[1][2] 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.

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.

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See also

References
  1. Rowlett, Russ (13 February 2006). "Lighthouses of Sri Lanka". University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  2. "Galle Light". Lighthouse Explorer. Foghorn Publishing. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  3. "List of Lighthouses in Sri Lanka". The Team Traveller. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  4. "Accounts and Papers of the House of Commons". 53. Parliament of Great Britain. 1850: 43. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. Sailing Directions for the West Coast of India - Issue 159. United States Hydrographic Office. 1920. p. 167.
  6. "The Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal". 10. 1847: 385. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. Lewis, Miles (2012). "Construction History". Iron Lighthouses. Construction History Society. 27: 23-64.
  8. "The Artizan". 5. December 1874: 274. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. "AS02: Lighthouses of Sri Lanka". The World Lighthouse Hub. Retrieved 6 March 2020.




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