LIGHTHOUSES and SAILING with post stamps and post cards: LIGHTHOUSES AFRICA / AUSTRALIA / N.ZEALAND POSTCARDS

EGYPT
ALEXANDRIA
LIGHTHOUSE

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was the first lighthouse in the world. Construction began in 290 BC and took twenty years to complete. When it was done it was the tallest building in the world at the time, except for the Great Pyramid. It was built on the island of Pharos, to help guide trade ships into its busy harbor at Alexandria, Egypt. The lighthouse was damaged by several earthquakes and eventually became an abandoned ruin. In 1994 some of the remains of the lighthouse were discovered by French archaeologists in Alexandria's Eastern Harbor.

Republic of
SOUTH AFRICA

Republic of South Africa
UMHLANGA ROCK
LIGHTHOUSE

Republic of South Africa
GROENPUNT
LIGHTHOUSE

Republic of South Africa
PELICAN POINT
LIGHTHOUSE

Republic of South Africa
AGULHAS
LIGHTHOUSE

Republic of South Africa
CAP RECIFE
NEAR PORT ELIZABETH
LIGHTHOUSE

Republic of South Africa
Cape Point
LIGHTHOUSE

Republic of South Africa
Cape St.Blaze, Mossel Bay
LIGHTHOUSE

Republic of South Africa
Mossel Bay
LIGHTHOUSE

Republic of South Africa
Cape Point
LIGHTHOUSE

Republic of South Africa
Cape Town

Dassen Island
LIGHTHOUSE

Republic of South Africa
ROBBEN ISLAND
LIGHTHOUSE

Republic of South Africa
WESTERN CAPE
CAPE AGULHAS
LIGHTHOUSE

NAMIBIA
SWAKOPMUND
LIGHTHOUSE
ANNO 1903

TUNISE

LIGHTHOUSE

TUNISE
The Medina/old city/ of Suisse
LIGHTHOUSE

TUNISE
MAHDIA
CAP AFRIQUE
LIGHTHOUSE
ANNO 1890

TUNISIE
de DJERBA
RAS TAGUERNESS LIGHT
LIGHTHOUSE
ANNO 1895

MAROCCO

AI JADIDA

Sidi Bou Afi Light

ANNO 1916

ALGERIE
CHERCHELL LIGHTHOUSE

ALGER
L,AMIRAUTE
LIGHTHOUSE

BERMUDA

Bermuda , also referred to as the Bermudas or the Somers Isles, is a British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic Ocean, located off the east coast of the United States. Its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about 1,030 kilometres (640 mi) to the west-northwest. It is about 1,239 kilometres (770 mi) south of Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia, and 1,770 kilometres (1,100 mi) northeast of Miami. Its capital city is Hamilton.
The first European to discover Bermuda was Spanish sea captain Juan de Bermúdez in 1503, after whom the islands are named. He claimed the apparently uninhabited islands for the Spanish Empire. Although he paid two visits to the archipelago, Bermúdez never landed on the islands, because he did not want to risk crossing over the dangerous reef surrounding them.

BERMUDA
St.DAVID
LIGHTHOUSE

St. David's Island is one of the main islands of Bermuda. It is located in the far north of the territory, one of the two similarly sized islands that makeup
the majority of St. George's Parish.
Located on St. David's Island and overlooking the South Shore, this famous 100 Year-old Lighthouse is a landmark on Bermudas east end.
The Lighthouse at the eastern end of St. David's island
is a sturdy stone structure, 55 feet high to lantern,
which shows a fixed white light of the second order,
of about 30 000 candlepower, at a total height of 208 feet above sea level.

The light is warning the ships since November 3, 1879 and it has been and it had been subject to changes and improvements, so that in place of the original kerosene burners of the ordinary oil wick type, it has a hood petroleum vapour burner of modern type installed in June 1922. The view from the balcony is superb in its rugged beauty, looking towards the east, and its pleasing panorama of land and water looking westwards.

BERMUDA
GIBBS HILL
LIGHTHOUSE

Built in 1844 by the Royal Engineers,
the Gibbs Hill Lighthouse is the taller of two lighthouses on Bermuda, and one of the first lighthouses in the world to be made of cast-iron. This is because at that time, steel still was not able to be bent. The optic consists of a Fresnel lens from 1904 revolving on steel bearings. However for most of its history, the lens revolved on a bed of 1,200 pounds of mercury.

NEW ZEALAND

NEW ZEALAND
CAPE EGMONT
/MANA ISLAND/
TARANAKI REGION
LIGHTHOUSE
ANNO 1865

NEW ZEALAND
CASTLE POINT
LIGHTHOUSE
ANNO 1913

Built upon a prominent cliff, Captain Cook observed that Castle Point looked like an
“old medieval stronghold”.
The Castle Point light was one of the last manned lights to be established in New Zealand. The cast iron tower was manufactured at Luke’s foundry in Wellington.

New Zealand

The Lyttelton Timeball Station

LIGHTHOUSE

Visual signals were important features of any port, necessary for communication between ship and shore, in pre-radio times. The Timeball Station sustained devasting damage during the Canterbury earthquakes but the site remains significant to New Zealand's history, and that of international maritime history.
Like a Scottish castle dominating the scenic port of Lyttelton, the Timeball Station was one of the few of its kind left in the world.
From 1876 to 1934 a ball dropped from its mast on its stone tower, signalling the time to ships in Lyttelton Harbour. Visual time signals were important features of many of the world's ports, being necessary to correct ships' chronometers and ensure accurate navigation. The timeball apparatus came from the well-known German firm Siemens Bros, and the astronomical clock from Edward Dent & Co. of London, who had made the Big Ben clock. Use of the timeball was discontinued in 1934 when it was replaced by radio signals, though flag signals continued until 1941. The flags, which predated the Timeball Station, were used on the flagstaff nearby to signal to ships and to communicate shipping advice to the town.
A fine example of Victorian technology, the Timeball Station was one of only five in the world known to be still in working order. It was a rare piece of maritime history, fabulously restored and boasting spectacular views over Lyttelton Harbour. Sadly, the building was significantly damaged in the Darfield Earthquake on 4 September 2010, and damaged beyond repair in the event of 22 February 2011

New Zealand

Banks Peninsula, Christchurch
Akaroa Head

LIGHTHOUSE

ANNO 1880

The original Akaroa lighthouse started operation on the precipitous headland of Akaroa Heads on 1 January 1880. One hundred years later, it was moved down to Akaroa Township, after being replaced in 1977 by an automated light.
The foundations are all that remain of the lighthouse keeper’s family homes, but the original stonework of the supply road down to Haylocks Bay remains along the cliff face, including an original stone culvert at the junction of the road and the small stream.
There is an atmosphere of history-past that permeates the air.

New Zealand

CAPE REINGA

LIGHTHOUSE

ANNO 1941

The Cape Reinga lighthouse is one of the most important landmarks of Te Paki, and stands on the edge of a steep rocky cape, lashed by the Tasman Sea (to the west) and Pacific Ocean.
Originally, Motuopao Island was chosen as the site best suited for the location of a lighthouse to protect ships passing through the dangerous, turbulent waters at the northern tip of New Zealand.
However, by the beginning of WWII, it was decided that the light was in the wrong location, so in 1941 the glasshouse and light mechanism on top of the lighthouse were removed and re-erected at the new lighthouse settlement at Te Rerenga Wairua. The remains of the original tower can still be seen on the northern end of the offshore island.
First used in May 1941, Te Rerenga Wairua was the last watched lighthouse to be built in New Zealand. Standing at an impressive 10m in height and 165m above sea level, it is one of New Zealand’s iconic landmarks.
The Cape Reinga light today is electric, with the last lighthouse keeper being withdrawn in 1987. It is now managed remotely by computer from Wellington.
The 1000-watt light bulb magnified by the lens system throws a signal of warning 49 km out to sea and is often the first light in New Zealand that sailors see.