Great Isaac Lighthouse is a lighthouse on the small Bahamian island of Great Isaac Cay. Erected in 1859, it is located about 20 miles (32 km) NNE of the Bimini Islands, and accessible only by boat. The lighthouse stands about 151 feet (46 m) tall.
 Great Isaac Cay Lighthouse in 2017 | |
 | |
| Location | Great Isaac Cay, Bimini, The Bahamas |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 26°01′42″N 79°05′22″W / 26.0283°N 79.0894°W |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1851  |
| Foundation | concrete base |
| Construction | cast iron tower |
| Shape | tapered cylinfrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings | white tower, black lantern |
| Power source | solar power |
| Operator | Bahamas Port Department[1][2] |
| Light | |
| First lit | 1859 |
| Deactivated | 2000-2008 |
| Focal height | 46 m (151 ft) |
| Range | 23 nmi (43 km; 26 mi) |
| Characteristic |  Fl W 15s |
On August 4, 1969, the station was discovered to have been abandoned by its two keepers, who were never found.[3] Many believers in the Bermuda Triangle claim that the keepers were two more victims lost to its mysterious forces.[4] However, the hurricane record from 1969 indicates that Hurricane Anna, the first hurricane of 1969, on 1–2 August, passed close enough to Great Isaac Island to cause dangerous weather for the tiny rock island. By the 4th of August, the hurricane was well into the Atlantic Ocean.
The grounds are open to the public, although the lighthouse itself has had stairs removed to block access to the interior of that structure. The keepers’ house, cistern, and assorted buildings are crumbling into ruins. The derelict collection of abandoned buildings make Great Isaac Cay a popular destination for boaters.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the Bahamas". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2016-08-23.
- ^ Great Isaac Light Lighthouse Explorer. Retrieved 23 August 2016
- ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the Bahamas". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
- ^ Quasar, Gian. Into the Bermuda Triangle: Pursuing the Truth Behind the World's Greatest Mystery (The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2004), Chapter 3: The Riddle of the Vanished Ships, p.71.
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