Roches-Douvres Light
Encyclopedia
Roches-Douvres Light is an active lighthouse
in Côtes-d'Armor
France
. At a height of 197 feet (60 m) it is the twenty-fourth tallest "traditional lighthouse" in the world.
It is located on Roches-Douvre, a very dangerous reef, completely covered at high tide but exposed at low tide, between the islands of Brehat and Guernsey
in the English Channel
. It is claimed to be the waveswept lighthouse farthest from mainland in Europe, about 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) off the French coast.
The location is accessible only by boat in very rough seas. Both the site and the tower are closed to the public.
. The tower was constructed from elements which were built by Rigolet in Paris
. The tower was constructed for the first time in 1866 on Champ de Mars, Paris, for the Exposition Universelle
of 1867. It was then disassembled and the parts were transferred to Brehat. The light was first lit on December 15, 1868 during the construction, with a characteristic of white flash every 4s. Actual construction was only completed on August 1869.
On June 18, 1903 the fuel was changed to petroleum.
The lighthouse was destroyed during in 1944 during World War II
by German troops.
In April 1950 a temporary light was mounted on a 17 metres (55.8 ft) pylon.
In April 1952 a light was mounted on the tower under construction. The construction was completed on June 19, 1954 and the light too the current characteristic. In July 1971 the light was electrified, where electricity comes from two wind turbines on towers of concrete and a generator. In October 2000 the lighthouse is automated.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
in Côtes-d'Armor
Côtes-d'Armor
Côtes-d'Armor is a department in the north of Brittany, in northwestern France.-History:Côtes-du-Nord was one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Brittany. Its name was changed in 1990 to...
France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. At a height of 197 feet (60 m) it is the twenty-fourth tallest "traditional lighthouse" in the world.
It is located on Roches-Douvre, a very dangerous reef, completely covered at high tide but exposed at low tide, between the islands of Brehat and Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
in the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
. It is claimed to be the waveswept lighthouse farthest from mainland in Europe, about 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) off the French coast.
The location is accessible only by boat in very rough seas. Both the site and the tower are closed to the public.
History
The original 1868 lighthouse was a cast iron tower, 190 feet (57.9 m) tall, tapering to a mere 13 feet (4 m) in diameter at the top. It was a twin to Amédée lighthouseAmedee Lighthouse
The Amédée lighthouse, or "Le Phare Amédée", is an iron lighthouse located on Amédée Island, 24 km away from Nouméa, New Caledonia.The metal components were made by Rigolet in North-East Paris in 1862 and the tower was constructed in Paris as a demonstration...
. The tower was constructed from elements which were built by Rigolet in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. The tower was constructed for the first time in 1866 on Champ de Mars, Paris, for the Exposition Universelle
Exposition Universelle (1867)
The Exposition Universelle of 1867 was a World Exposition held in Paris, France, in 1867.-Conception:In 1864, Emperor Napoleon III decreed that an international exposition should be held in Paris in 1867. A commission was appointed with Prince Jerome Napoleon as president, under whose direction...
of 1867. It was then disassembled and the parts were transferred to Brehat. The light was first lit on December 15, 1868 during the construction, with a characteristic of white flash every 4s. Actual construction was only completed on August 1869.
On June 18, 1903 the fuel was changed to petroleum.
The lighthouse was destroyed during in 1944 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
by German troops.
In April 1950 a temporary light was mounted on a 17 metres (55.8 ft) pylon.
In April 1952 a light was mounted on the tower under construction. The construction was completed on June 19, 1954 and the light too the current characteristic. In July 1971 the light was electrified, where electricity comes from two wind turbines on towers of concrete and a generator. In October 2000 the lighthouse is automated.
See also
- List of tallest lighthouses in the world
- List of lighthouses in France