Gustavia Lighthouse

The Gustavia Lighthouse is a 20th-century lighthouse located in Gustavia, the capital of Saint Barthélemy in the French West Indies. It was constructed in 1961 on the grounds of Fort Gustav, overlooking the Gustavia harbor.^[1]

Gustavia Lighthouse

View of Gustavia Lighthouse
Location	Gustavia, Saint Barthélemy, France
Coordinates	17.901061°N 62.851533°W / 17.901061; -62.851533
Tower
Constructed	1961
Construction	concrete (tower)
Automated	1972
Height	9 m (30 ft)
Shape	conical
Markings	white (body), red (dome)
Power source	mains electricity
Light
First lit	1962
Focal height	64 m (210 ft)
Light source	electricity
Range	11 km (6.8 mi) (white), 8 km (5.0 mi) (red), 8 km (5.0 mi) (green)
Characteristic	white, green, red / 12 s

Today the lighthouse is a popular location for tourists, hikers, and photographers,^[1][2] as well as a site for viewing regattas, such as the St Barths Bucket Regatta.^[3][4]

History

The lighthouse was constructed in 1961 by the Direction des Phares and Balises.^[1][5] It was built on the grounds of Fort Gustav,^[1] one of multiple 18th-century forts that protected Gustavia. Construction took six months, and was done by two laborers: Joseph Gréaux de Flamands and Louis Turbé de Public.^[6]

The lighthouse's lamp was first lit in 1962,^[6] by lighthouse keeper Albert Lédée (who would be lighthouse keeper for almost 30 years).^[6] Originally, the lamp was gas powered.^[1][6] It required three cylinders each month, which were replaced by Lédée monthly.^[6]

In 1972, after switching to electricity, the operation of the lighthouse lamp was automated.^[1][6] An electronic cell triggers the lamp's mechanism based on brightness.^[6] Additionally, batteries were installed at the bottom of the tower to provide back-up power to the light in the event of power loss from a hurricane.^[6]

Characteristics

The lighthouse is 9 m (30 ft) tall. Its focal plane is 64 meters (210 ft) above sea level. The round conical tower has a single red band at the top, with "Gustavia" written in white. Its light flashes every 12 seconds, white, green, or red depending on direction,^[7][8] with a range of 8-11 km (5-6.8 mi). Some have noted that the Gustavia Lighthouse does not meet the French Bureau of Lighthouses and Signals criteria for lighthouse height or range.^[5][9]

• 
  Gustavia Lighthouse with canon below
• 
  Gustavia Lighthouse and canons on hill above Gustavia Harbor
• 
  View of Gustavia harbor from the base of Gustavia Lighthouse

See also

• List of lighthouses in France
• List of lighthouses in Saint Barthélemy
• Bureau Phares et Balises(Bureau of Lighthouses and Signals)

References

1. "A Red and White Landmark". ON AIR. August 10, 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-12-21. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
2. Findlay, Nicole (2023-04-12). "10 Things To Do In St. Barts: Complete Guide To This Luxury Caribbean Island". TheTravel. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
3. "Where to Watch the Regattas" (PDF). St-Barth Weekly. No. 195. March 25, 2010. p. 4.
4. "Around the Bucket" (PDF). St-Barth Weekly. No. 385. March 16, 2017. p. 13.
5. "The Lighthouse". Saint-Barth Magazine (in French) (Special 30th Anniversary ed.). 6 December 2016. pp. 10–11.
6. "Le Phare" [The Lighthouse]. Saint-Barth Magazine (in French) (Special 30th Anniversary ed.). 6 December 2016. pp. 10–11.
7. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Saint-Barthélemy". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
8. "Maritime Safety Information: NGA List of Lights". msi.nga.mil. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
9. "Les Phares Patrimoine de Côtes de France" [Heritage Lighthouses of France] (PDF). Ministère de la Transition écologique et de la Cohésion des territoires (in French). Secrétariat d'État chargé de la Mer. p. 3. Le phare est administrativement défini comme un établissement remplissant au moins trois des quatre critères suivants: • une fonction d'atterrissage • une hauteur audessus du sol de plus de 20 mètres • une portée supérieure à 20 milles • un ensemble bâti, en particulier des logements de gardiens. [A lighthouse is administratively defined as an establishment fulfilling at least three of the following four criteria: • a landing function •a height above the ground of more than 20 meters • a range greater than 20 miles • a built complex, in particularly guard housing.]