What
is a Lighthouse? |
August
2002
|
A
lighthouse is a tower on or near the shore of an ocean, harbor,
or river. There is a lantern room on top that holds the lens.
This is where the light shines out. The lens shines a bright
light to warn ships about dangers like rocks or sandbars. It
can also mark the entrance to a river or inlet.
Before
electricity, lighthouses needed light keepers. The keepers
made sure the lights worked and added fuel to the lamp. They
also helped rescue people who were drowning. Light keepers
were almost always men. Some lived alone, and some brought
their families. Lighthouse keepers were needed until electricity.
Electricity made lighthouses automated. This meant they worked
by themselves and didn’t need keepers.
The
U.S. Coast Guard runs most of the working lighthouses today.
They are called active aids to navigation. People also own
some lighthouses. These are private aids to navigation. A person
or group of people can buy a lighthouse to use.
Next: What
Lighthouses Look Like
|