Tall, striking, beacons of hope and light, lighthouses have protected sea-farers and captured our imaginations for centuries. Located at the waters edge right across the world, they warn ships of potential danger, and help crews to navigate the seas.
We can all picture the standard lighthouse; cylindrical, striped, with a beam flashing out from the top. But they don’t all look like this. Here BBC Bitesize shines a light on some of the more enchanting and awe-inspiring lighthouses from around the globe.
Image caption, Tourlitis Lighthouse - Greece, Aegean Sea
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Tourlitis Lighthouse - Greece, Aegean Sea
The Tourlitis Lighthouse looks more like a wizard’s hideaway than a navigation beacon. It is located off the coast of the Greek Island of Andros and was originally built in 1897. It has been lighting the way across the Aegean Sea for over 120 years. However, there was a time when this powerful light (which has a range of 11 nautical miles) did not shine - during the Second World War it was destroyed by German bombs.
The structure standing on the rocky outcrop now was built around 60 years after the bombing, in the mid 1990s. A local oil tycoon rebuilt it in memory of his daughter. Once reconstructed, the lighthouse became the first in Greece to be fully automated, meaning there was no longer a need for anyone to climb the tricky stone staircase and operate the light.
The dramatic islet that the lighthouse sits on is the result of thousands of years of erosion. Though you’d be forgiven for thinking it is actually the product of a mythical spell!
The Tower of Hercules - Spain, Atlantic Ocean
According to legend, this lighthouse in Spain is built on the site of one of the 12 labours of the Greek hero Hercules.
It is located at the entrance of La Coruña harbour in the north-west of the country and is said to be where Hercules defeated the three-bodied giant named Geryon. Hence the name of the lighthouse.
The Tower of Hercules is 55 metres tall, and sits on rock that rises 57 metres above the Atlantic, meaning it’s beam can be seen for miles around. It is the oldest standing Roman lighthouse in the world - built in the first century A.D - and is the only one still in use. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The exterior of the lighthouse has been restored and renovated over the years but much of the original stone interior remains intact. This includes three levels with a number of living chambers - although no one lives there now. Today electricity is used to power the light. However, no one knows exactly how the lighthouse was lit in the past due to a lack of historical documents.
Kjeungskjær Lighthouse - Norway, North Sea
There are more than 2,000 lighthouses on Norway’s vast coastline, which measures around 100,000km. The Kjeungskjær lighthouse is a unique example. This unusual red, octagonal structure is only twenty meters tall, but serves a big purpose. It helps large cargo ships, fishermen, and other seafarers to navigate the area where the North sea meets Norway's third largest fjord - Trondheimsfjord.
The lighthouse was built in 1880, and is located off the coast of the Norwegian municipality of Ørland - where locals say the weather can change in the blink of an eye.
When first built Kjeungskjær lighthouse was consistently manned by a keeper and their family. Sometimes a teacher also lived there to teach the keeper’s children. The pupils could only take a break from class during low tide! The lighthouse has not been manned since 1987, and is now fully automated. In fact, the only 'residents' are visitors who pay to book an overnight stay in what is one of Norway's most photographed lighthouses.
Jeddah Light, Saudi Arabia - Red Sea
The Jeddah Light, also known as the Jeddah Port Control Tower, is, according to Guinness World Records, the tallest lighthouse in the world. It stands at a colossal 133 metres tall and dominates the local skyline.
The tower is located at the northern entrance to the Jeddah seaport, and is home to the port's control room, as well as housing the all-important lights. They flash three times every twenty seconds and have a range of 46 kilometres.
Some lighthouse purists would question the inclusion of the Jeddah Light on this list as it was not initially built to aid navigation. So, just in case you are wondering what the tallest lighthouse to be built exclusively for navigation is - that record belongs to the Île Vierge Lighthouse. It is located off the coast of north-western France and stands at 82.5 metres tall.
The Seahorse Lighthouse, Malaysia - South China Sea
This lighthouse earns a place on the list purely on its looks. This aquatic themed bronze tower sits on the coast of the Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is one of many seahorse sculptures in the city of Miri which adopted the sea-creature as it’s emblem in 1994.
For many Miri residents the seahorse symbolises tranquility and peace, qualities they believe reflect the harmony of their diverse city.
Miri’s seahorse lighthouse is not the only one to be inspired by an animal. In fact, the largest animal shaped lighthouse is also based on a kind of horse. On South Korea’s Jeju Island is a pair of 'light-horses.' Each equine sculpture is almost 12 metres tall and together they pay homage to the island’s native pony breed.
This article was published in August 2025
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