Back Groenpunt-vuurtoring Afrikaans Faro de Green Point (Ciudad del Cabo) Spanish Phare Green Point French Vuurtoren van Groenpunt Dutch Groenpunt fyr NB Green Point fyr Swedish
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| Location | Cape Town South Africa |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 33°54′05.07″S 18°23′59.79″E / 33.9014083°S 18.3999417°E |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1824  |
| Construction | masonry tower |
| Height | 16 metres (52 ft) |
| Shape | square tower with balcony and lantern rising from one-story keeper's house |
| Markings | tower with red and white diagonal bands |
| Fog signal | Horn |
| Light | |
| First lit | 24 April 1824 |
| Focal height | 20 metres (66 ft) |
| Intensity | 850,000 candela |
| Range | 25 nmi (46 km; 29 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 10s. |
The Green Point Lighthouse, Cape Town is an operational lighthouse on the South African coast.[1] First lit on 12 April 1824, it is located on Mouille Point.[2][3][4] The lighthouse was the first solid lighthouse structure on the South African coast and the oldest operational lighthouse in South Africa.[5] The lighthouse was commissioned by acting Governor of the Cape Colony Sir Rufane Shaw Donkin and designed by German architect Herman Shutte.[6] Building commenced in 1821 and was completed in 1823. The lighthouse started operating in 1824.[2] The lighthouse cost approximately £6,420 pounds sterling to build.[7] When the lighthouse was first lit, it burned Argand lamps fueled by sperm whale oil. The light from these lanterns could be seen for 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi). The lighthouse was expanded to its present height in 1865.[5] In 1922, the range of the light house was extended to 22 nautical miles when 3rd order dioptric flashing lights were installed.[8] Its present characteristic is a white light flashing every 10 seconds.[9] In 1926, a foghorn was installed in the lighthouse despite a letter of complaint sent to the Mayor of Cape Town in 1923 by Green Point residents.[2] Local Residents call the Green Point Lighthouse "Moaning Minnie".
- ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Western South Africa". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2016-03-21.
- ^ a b c "Green Point Lighthouse, Cape Town". www.southafrica.net. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
- ^ Williams (1993), p.1.
- ^ Portnet (1991), p.17.
- ^ a b "Green Point Lighthouse Cape Town". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
- ^ "Green Point Lighthouse". www.artefacts.co.za. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
- ^ "Green Point Lighthouse". www.greenpointlife.co.za. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
- ^ "Moaning Minnie in all her glory". www.citysightseeing.co.za. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
- ^ "Green Point Lighthouse (Cape Town, South Africa)". Lighthouse Explorer. Foghorn Publishing.