in the Bahamas
The Bahamas are made up of several small islands spread out through
a wide expanse of ocean. In the early days of the European settlements,
the lighthouses served an essential purpose, guiding ships to shore
in the darkness. During night storms when the overcast sky was unable
to be used as a navigation tool, the lighthouse was what brought the
ships in, sometimes meaning the difference between life and death for
the ship and its crew and cargo. Some of these lighthouses still remain
and can be visited today.
One of the best known of these lighthouses is found in Hope Town, on
Elbow Cay, which is part of the Abacos of the Bahamas. This lighthouse
is a remarkable red and white structure, and was opened in 1863. It
is one of three lighthouses in the world, all of which are found in
the Bahamas, that still operates in the old-fashioned way. The light
is powered by kerosene and run by hand. The lighthouse keeper must adjust
the cables and weights that keep the kerosene flowing properly. Due
to the special lens inside, the light from this lighthouse can be seen
up to 17 miles out into the ocean. Visitors are welcome to make the
101-step climb up to the top to admire the view.
Andros, of the Bahamas, is home to the Bird Rock Lighthouse, known especially
for the ospreys that make their homes there. It began its operation
in 1876, built by the British. It was run by hand, withstanding storms,
hurricanes and even tidal waves. But, it did not withstand progress.
In 1978, it became automated, ending its near century of continuous
occupation. Soon, even the light was gone. However, in 1999, the light
was relit and the restoration of this landmark lighthouse became a project
of local interest and importance. The end result of the restoration
efforts is a fascinating guesthouse that also houses a small museum
devoted to the history of the area.
On the northern part of San Salvador, another island of the Bahamas,
there is another of the rare kerosene lit lighthouses. The light at
Dixon Hill Lighthouse was first lit in 1887, and it continues to be
run by the manual efforts of its keepers. It is 83 steps to the top
of this lighthouse, and visitors are welcomed.
Yamacraw Point, which is on New Providence Island of the Bahamas, is
home to another lighthouse. The location is notable for its beautiful
view of where the sky meets the sea, and the equally lovely beach that
makes it possible to contemplate that distant meeting point in complete
comfort and peace.
Lighthouses once were a vital part of the seafaring life. The lit beacon
allows ships to find land in difficult dark weather, as well as prevented
them from running aground upon a tiny island in the middle of the night.
They remain an important part of nautical history, standing as a reminder
of those brave travelers, who navigated the seas with simple tools and
their knowledge of the sky above. Lighthouses throughout the world are
being restored with loving attention, but the Bahamas are home to most
those that are still run the old-fashioned way. Visiting one of these
fascinating historical landmarks adds a nice touch to any Bahamas vacation.
About The Author:
Peter Dobler successfully operates several web sites on the topic of
internet marketing and web site optimization. Visit his main web site
Other Travel Related Information
discounted tickets, airfare, vacations, and cruises with up
to 90% off regular rates. Every day, thousands of tickets and
fares become automatically discounted by companies due to unclaimed
or unsold status. You can find and purchase all types of tickets
for a fraction of their face value through our proprietary database
sources. That type of direct discount purchases were previously
available only to authorized travel agents, and now, through
our website only, you will be able to access thousands of unclaimed
ticket sources. View fares and tickets sold within the last
48 hours below...
Get more information
invites you to join one of the fastest growing popular trends
in the world today - House Sitting. HouseCarers provides the
most comprehensive information available on house sitting. We
guide you through the process of successfully matching homeowner
with sitters. Housesitters list their preferences through a
simple registration process. Homeowners communicate with sitters
through our confidential message system to preserve privacy
and security. Whether you’re a house sitter or a homeowner,
HouseCarers brings peace of mind closer to home.
Get more information
I get free airline tickets & travel on a shoestring
Cheapest fares are always found online.
Wrong. Many of the wholesale airline contracts are prohibited
from being marketed on a website. If you're only searching Expedia,
Orbitz, Travelocity and the like, you're not seeing all the
really discounted fares that are available.
Buying direct from the airlines is good.
Wrong again. You just eliminated the possibility of buying a
consolidator airfare, which is almost always cheaper than anything
the airlines offer, and, the cheapest airfare are sold
only by travel agencies.
The airlines sell off unsold seats cheap at the last minute.
This myth can cost you big time or the cancellation of your
plans if you're not willing to pay the exorbitant price the
airlines want to extort from you. Believing this myth proves
you have no clue about the airlines' distribution system.
Get more information