Old and New Lighthouses

Lighthouses have protected ships along the coasts all over the world. For thousands of years they have kept ships from sailing too close to rocky shores.

Some early lighthouses burned wood or coal in metal braziers, or baskets. Others used large candles to make lights for the ships. Later, oil-burning lamps were used.

Today, electricity is used in most lighthouses. Some unpiloted lighthouses even use sunlight to make electricity for the lights.

Most lighthouses use a flashing light to warn ships. Each lighthouse uses a different pattern of flashes. This helps a ship identify the lighthouse it is nearing.

Lighthouses are built of many different materials. Some must be built stronger than others. A lighthouse built on land does not need to be as strong as one that is built on a small, rocky island. Island lighthouses have to be very strong to stand against strong waves.

In the United States today, many lighthouses work without keepers. The signal lights come on automatically at night. In fog, lighthouses also send out signal noises to warn ships that may not be able to see the signal lights.

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