Page 3 - B is for Beacon: A Great Lakes Lighthouse Alphabet

Because the earth is round, navigational
beacons need to be placed high above the
earth’s surface to be seen from great
distances. The higher the elevation of the
beam of light, the further away it can shine
out to be seen by passing ships.

Split Rock Lighthouse has a yellow brick
tower only 54 feet tall, but the light’s
position on a sheer cliff rising 130 feet
over Lake Superior made its beacon visible
for 22 miles. Today the lighthouse and its
museum attract thousands of tourists each
year. When it was built in 1910 that part of
Minnesota was wilderness. Crews and
materials had to be hoisted from boats at
the base of the cliff.

At 113 feet the tallest lighthouse tower
in the Great Lakes belongs to the New
Presque Isle Lighthouse. You can climb
the 144 steps to the top for a great view
of the peninsula jutting into Lake Huron.

E is for Elevation

The Split Rock Lighthouse
stands in place
high above
the sheer rock face.