Cape Maclear Lighthouse. Cape Point. 1860.

Cape Maclear Lighthouse. Cape Point.
	1860.
	Please click to tour Cape Point.
	The first lighthouse at Cape Point was established in 1860 at the top of Cape Maclear. This was later replaced with a lower more effective Cape Point Lighthouse in 1919. The old Cape Point lighthouse (left) was often obscured by fog and mist, and a second lighthouse was therefore constructed on Dias Point.



	This picture (right) taken from the walking trail to Dias Lookout Point.





Visit the new lighthouse on the next 3 pages of the tour.
'The Point' has not been called the 'Cape of Storms' for nothing, and has been treated with respect by sailors since it was first sighted by Dias in 1488. By day, it was a landmark of great navigational value until the introduction of radar. By night, and in fog, it was a menace. Ships had to approach closely to obtain bearings and thereby were exposed to the dangers of Bellows Rock and Albatross Rock. And so the lighthouse was built...


The original lighthouse still stands on the highest section of the peak and is now used as a centralized monitoring point for all the lighthouses in South Africa. It is situated 816 feet above the high water mark which is a few feet away from the lighthousein the horizontal plane. This made it very ineffective in mist which mandated the establishment of the second lighthouse at 286 feet (87 meters). The newer lighthouse is the most powerful on the South African coast. It emits three flashes in a group every 30 seconds and revolves. (In contrast the Slangkop lighthouse at Kommetjie emits 4 flashes every 30 seconds). For more detailed information on both the lighthouses and shipwrecks please click the picture top right, or use the navigation arrows to continue the tour.

		Cape Point Tour.
Some of the information on this page from the Cape Peninsula National Park, Cape of Good Hope Brochure.



	Where to go?

		Larry's Rump Steak at the Beach Hotel Kitchen.	Kommetjie Bay from the Beach Hotel for Kommetjie Area.

Contact: info@sunsetbeach.co.za Tel: +27 21 783 4283 Fax: + 27 21 783 4286	Janthina for pictorial sitemap

		Siffie for Beach Hotel Rates