The Tallest Lighthouses In The World

The Palacio Barolo in Buenos Aires, Argentina is unique for housing a lighthouse at its top.
The Palacio Barolo in Buenos Aires, Argentina is unique for housing a lighthouse at its top.

What Is The Purpose of a Lighthouse?

A lighthouse is designed to emit light from a system made of lamps and lenses in order to serve as a navigational point for marine pilots. It marks critical points along the coastline as well as safe entries to harbors. A lighthouse can also assist in aerial navigation. Lighthouses were commonly used before the development of defined ports. The construction of the modern towers began in the 18th century. The advancement in the field of structural engineering and the invention of better lighting equipment allowed for the construction of large and powerful lighthouses. While some lighthouses are built on raised grounds, some of the tallest lighthouses are built on sea level grounds.

1. Jeddah Light

The Jeddah Light is the tallest lighthouse in the world, and is located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The monument is 436 feet tall, surpassing the previous record of 352 feet set by the Perry Memorial Monument.

2. Perry Memorial Monument

Perry Memorial Monument was built to commemorate the Battle of Lake Erie which was fought around South Bass Island, Ohio. The monument also signifies the lasting peace between Canada, Britain, and the US that followed the War of 1812. The 352-foot monument was constructed between 1912 and 1915 in memory those who took part in the battle. It rises over Lake Erie and is located 5 miles away from the longest unguarded border in the world. Beneath the foundation stone of the monument lies the remains of six British and American officers while the names of soldiers who were killed or injured during the battle are inscribed on the inside wall of the monument.

3. Bicentennial Lighthouse

The Bicentennial Lighthouse is located in Sarmiento Park, Cordoba in Argentina. The lighthouse is 262 feet tall and serves as Cordoba’s icon. It was designed and built in the style of structural expressionism. The Bicentennial Lighthouse was created as a tribute to the Argentina Bicentennial. Atop the lighthouse is an antenna which brings its total height to 335 feet. Light-emitting diodes illuminate the tower at night. The internal stairs allow for the access to the top although the stairs are closed to the public. Several exhibition rooms have been built at the foot of the tower. Bicentennial Lighthouse was opened in 2011 after an eight-month construction duration during the same year.

4.Yokohama Marine Tower

Yokohama Marine Tower is a 348-foot high lighthouse with an observation deck at its top. The tower is marked by a flash of light every 20 seconds which alternate between red and green. At night, the tower shaft is lit in white. Yokohama Marine Tower was opened in 1961. Visitors can see Mount Fuji on a clear day from the observation deck. The tower was temporarily closed from the public in 2006 for renovation and was reopened in May 2009 as part of the celebrations to mark Yokohama’s 150th anniversary. The tower has been billed as the tallest in the world. However, it depends on the type of lighthouses under consideration.

5. Palacio Barolo

Palacio Barolo is a magnificent building located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is also a national historical monument. The building has 22 floors categorized into three sections with the ground floor and basement representing hell, 1st to 14th representing purgatory, and 15th to 22nd floors representing heaven. Palacio Barolo is 330 feet tall and has a lighthouse at the top which can be seen from Uruguay. The lighthouse emits light at night making the building visible from great distances in Buenos Aires and Montevideo in Uruguay. The construction of Palacio Barolo was completed in 1923 making it the tallest building in South America at the time.

The Tallest Lighthouses In The World

RankNameHeight in Feet (Meters)LocationCountry
1Jeddah Light436 (133)Jeddah Saudi Arabia
2Perry Memorial Monument352 (107)Put-in-Bay, Ohio United States
3Bicentennial Lighthouse335 (102)Córdoba Argentina
4Yokohama Marine Tower332 (101)Yokohama Japan
5Palacio Barolo328 (100)Buenos Aires Argentina
6Statue of Liberty305 (93)New York City United States
7Île Vierge Lighthouse82.5 (271)Finistère France
8Lighthouse of Genoa77 (253)Genoa Italy
9Phare de Gatteville247 (75)Gatteville-le-Phare France
10Lesnoy Mole Rear Range Light239 (73)Saint Petersburg Russia
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