Lighthouses Big and Small

Lighthouse are endless source of mystery and wonder. They are mostly located on shores of oceans, lakes and rivers, but exceptions confirm the rules. Some lighthouses stand miles away from water on high cliffs.

The curiosity provoking structures are built to provide safety to ships of all categories, and to help navigators in distress. The size of lighthouses vary from a height of over 300 ft (90m) to less than 30 ft (9m).

These towers of saving power have been serving humanity since the fourth century BC. When the first lighthouse called Pharos was built in Alexandria Egypt. It is not uncommon that lighthouses are attacked by forces of nature. The Pharos lighthouse was destroyed by vicious storms in the fourteenth century, after it had saved innumerable lives over a thousand year period.

According to recent statistics there are over 13,000 lighthouses in the world today.

Many of the lighthouses included in this book create a fascinating chain of historic landmarks which are accessible to the public.

Enjoy your journey following the stories with photographs of twenty five lighthouses from Europe to New Zealand.