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Lighthouses of Egypt and Morocco
| Cap Spartel Lighthouse in Morocco |
Read more to discover information on the oldest lighthouse in the world, the Pharos of Alexandria in the African country of Egypt.
Point Cires is a peninsula and two islands off the northern coast of Morocco within the Strait of Gibraltar. Strait of Gibraltar is a vital shipping channel connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, lying between southernmost Spain and northwestern most Africa. Strait of Gibraltar is 36 miles or 58 km long and narrows to 9 miles 15 km in width between Point Cires Morocco and Point Marroquí Spain.
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The islands have a lighthouse and many years ago, people decided to explore Strait of Gibraltar waters by boat. During the day, they could find their way back to the landing place by looking for a pile of rocks that had been left there. These were the first day marks. However, how could they find their way home at night? Since much of the shoreline looked very similar, groups had to light a bonfire on a high point to guide them to the right landing area. Still later, they used a pole or a tripod to hang a metal basket containing a fire as a method of signaling.
The first lighthouses were actually given to us by nature herself. Sailors sometimes used landmarks such as glowing volcanoes to guide them. In the Ancient World, trading ships were eventually built enabling navigators to sail long distances to buy and sell goods. In the days of wooden ships with sails, the wind and waves could easily push them against the rocks and wreck them. Therefore, the need for lighthouses as warning signals arose.
Pharos of Alexandria is a lighthouse in Egypt and was the first one built about 280 B.C. Those records tell us that it was the tallest one ever built 450 ft. comparable to a 45 story skyscraper and used an open fire at the top as a source of light. The structure survived for 1,500 years until it was completely destroyed by an earthquake in the 14th Century. At night they believe its lighted fire could be seen for thirty miles, whereas by day it produced a column of smoke for a daymark. Today people who study or are interested in lighthouses pharologists. The name comes from that famous lighthouse.
Africa and Europe are separated by less than 9 miles at the Strait of Gibraltar making lighthouses vital to keeping people, cargo and ships safe. You cannot see colors or patterns at night, but you can see lights. The two main purposes of a lighthouse are to serve as a navigational aid and to warn boats of dangerous areas. It is like a traffic sign on the sea.
| El Hank Lighthouse of Morocco |
Lighthouses of Morocco
This is a list of lighthouses in Morocco, which are located along both the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines of this North African country.
Name of Moroccan Lighthouses | Waterbody | Year Built | Range Light can be seen in Nautical Miles (NMI) |
Cap des Trois Fourches Lighthouse | Mediterranean | 1909 | 19 nmi (35 km) |
Cap Rhir Lighthouse | Atlantic | 1931 | 22 nmi (41 km) |
Cap Spartel Lighthouse | Atlantic | 1864 | 30 nmi (56 km) |
El Hank Lighthouse | Atlantic | 1919 | 30 nmi (56 km) |
Cap Malabata Lighthouse | Atlantic | Unknown | 22 nmi (41 km) |
Rabat Lighthouse | Atlantic | 1920 | 16 nmi (30 km) |
Sidi Bou Afi Lighthouse | Atlantic | 1916 | 30 nmi (56 km) |
Cap Sim Lighthouse | Atlantic | 1917 | 21 nmi (39 km) |
| Alexandria Montazah Beach lighthouse of Egypt Abandoned Lighthouse |
Lighthouses of Egypt
This is a list of lighthouses, beacons, headlights and towers in Egypt, which are located along both the Mediterranean and Red Sea coastlines.
Name of Egyptian Lighthouses | Waterbody | Year Built | Tower Height | Range Light can be seen in Nautical Miles (NMI) | |
Alexandria Montazah Beach lighthouse | Abandoned Lighthouse | ||||
Ashrafi Juzur | Red Sea | 1940 | 26 m (85 ft) | 17 nmi (31 km) | |
Ayn Sukhnah | Red Sea | 2008 | 39 m (128 ft) | 22 nmi (41 km) | |
Birket Misallat | Red Sea | Unknown | 39 m (128 ft) | 18 nmi (33 km) | |
Bluff Point | Red Sea | Unknown | 10 m (33 ft) | 15 nmi (28 km) | |
Brothers Islands Lighthouse | Red Sea | 1883 | 31 m (102 ft) | 17 nmi (31 km) | |
Burullus | Mediterranean | 1992 | 39 m (128 ft) | 20 nmi (37 km) | |
Daedalus Reef | Red Sea | 1931 | 30 m (98 ft) | 15 nmi (28 km) | |
Dahab | Red Sea | Unknown | 10 m (33 ft) | 15 nmi (28 km) | |
Damietta | Mediterranean | 1992 | 39 m (128 ft) | 20 nmi (37 km) | |
El Agami | Mediterranean | Unknown | 14 m (46 ft) | 15 nmi (28 km) | |
El Arish | Mediterranean | 1997 | 20 m (66 ft) | 18 nmi (33 km) | |
El Bahar Tower | Mediterranean | 2008 | 42 m (138 ft) | 15 nmi (28 km) | |
El Dikheila Range Rear | Mediterranean | Unknown |
