The lighthouse is a tall tower-shaped building. Most of the lighthouses are similar to the shape of the tower. Through the lens system on the top of the tower, the light is emitted to the sea for illumination. Before the advent of electricity, fire was often used as a light source.

The lighthouse is composed of lamps and towers, let's take a look at it.

1. Tower body

The tower body can be constructed of various building materials, mainly to adapt and resist harsh natural conditions such as wind and waves, so as to maintain its own stability and durability. The height of the tower should be adapted to the requirements of the lighting range.

2. Lamps

The lamp is composed of two basic parts: the illuminator and the light radiator. The luminous energy of modern lighthouses mainly uses electricity. The center of the luminous body of the illuminator is located at the focus of the condensing lens, and the light source radiates spherical light through the condensing lens to become a parallel beam with a certain diffusion angle.

Lighting equipment should be installed on the top of the tower, the location should be prominent, and attention should be paid to it should have a specific architectural shape, which is easy for ships to distinguish, and at the same time becomes one of the highest points in the port.

Since the surface of the earth is a curved surface, the tower body must have a sufficient height so that the light can be seen by long-distance ships, and the general line of sight is 15-25 nautical miles; but the light should not be too high, so as not to be obscured by clouds and fog at high places .

Lighthouses are built on land, whether they are breakwaters, coastal highlands, or various small islands. The way of building this type of lighthouse is basically not much different from building a house. It can be built using brick structures, concrete structures or even wood and stone. Even on the most remote islands, they are built this way.

In very old lighthouses, kerosene lamps are used as the light source, and the head of the lighthouse manually operates the clockwork to rotate the lens system that concentrates the light.

In modern lighthouses, the lamps and clockwork are externally supplied with electricity, and are operated by diesel-driven generators that provide electricity for the life of the person in charge of the lighthouse. Some lighthouses are powered by solar power.

According to the size of the lighthouse and the characteristics of the location, the lighthouse can be guarded or unguarded. Important lighthouses should be guarded.

At the same time, the lighthouse also has a very important role.

1. Escort lighting

The lighthouse is a tower-shaped luminous beacon built near the key parts of the waterway,and it helps to find the right direction.The former lighthouse symbolized hope because it was lit by fire.

2. Geographical coordinates

With the rapid development of science and technology, the establishment of the integrated navigation system of radar transponder, DGPS system and AIS ship automatic identification system, the navigation function of the lighthouse is becoming more and more weakened, and the navigation value is decreasing day by day.

But it has a potential historical culture. The value has become the human geography coordinate sought after by all countries.

3. Defensive role

The lighthouse can be used for observation, watching the movements of passing ships at any time, and ensuring the safety of the sea.