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Great Isaac Lighthouse

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Great Isaac Lighthouse
Great Isaac Cay Lighthouse in 2017
Map
LocationGreat Isaac Cay, Bimini, The Bahamas Edit this at Wikidata
Coordinates26°01′42″N 79°05′22″W / 26.0283°N 79.0894°W / 26.0283; -79.0894
Tower
Constructed1851 Edit this on Wikidata
Foundationconcrete base
Constructioncast iron tower
Shapetapered cylinfrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markingswhite tower, black lantern
Power sourcesolar power Edit this on Wikidata
OperatorBahamas Port Department[1][2]
Light
First lit1859 Edit this on Wikidata
Deactivated2000-2008
Focal height46 m (151 ft) Edit this on Wikidata
Range23 nmi (43 km; 26 mi) Edit this on Wikidata
Characteristic Fl W 15s Edit this on Wikidata

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.

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

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References

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  1. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the Bahamas". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2016-08-23.
  2. ^ Great Isaac Light Lighthouse Explorer. Retrieved 23 August 2016
  3. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the Bahamas". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2008-03-14.
  4. ^ 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.