An Island Guarded By Lighthouses – USHANT, FRANCE

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The French island Ushant (Île d’Ouessant) marks the southern limit of the Celtic Sea and the southern entrance to the English Channel. Due to strong currents, dangerous weather changes and the location at the entrance to one of the busiest shipping areas in the world, no fewer than six lighthouses can be found on and around the island.

Nividic Lighthouse (1912)

Tower height: 35.55 metres (116 ft)

Range: 10 nautical miles (18.5 km)

The Nividic lighthouse is located on the far west of the island. It is recognisable by its helicopter pad on top and the two strange-looking pylons. In 1912 the electrical cable have to be aerial, which implies the construction of additional pylons. The question of maintenance is also tricky: Since the lighthouse is not inhabited, it is 1923 decided to build a small cable car parallel to the power line to get to the lighthouse. All the lighthouses were shut down during the German occupation in World War II and the aerial cables corroded and broke. The cables and the cable car were dismantled in 1945, only the pylons remain as silent witnesses.

Jument Lighthouse (1911)

Tower height: 47 metres (154 ft)

Range: 22 nautical miles (41 km)

Kéréon Lighthouse (1916)

Tower height: 48 metres (157 ft)

Range: 17 nautical miles (31.5 km)

Créac'h Lighthouse (1863)

Tower height: 54.85 metres (180.0 ft)

Range: 32 nautical miles (59 km)

The Créac'h Lighthouse with a range of almost 60 km is one of the most powerful lighthouses in the world.

The submarine bell (1909-1919) was located on a rock near the lighthouse Creac'h. The concrete base is still visible today. A 30-meter cantilevered metal beam allowed in foggy weather the immersion of an electric bell, whose sounds were picked up by the hulls of ocean-going ships equipped with hydrophones.

Le Stiff Lighthouse (1700)