Southern Lights Lighthouses of Southern Africa

Britain, Australia, France - nearly every country that is bordered by a coastline has its own publication dealing with the lighthouses that dot their coast. This publication gives the full story of the lighthouses along the Southern African coast: their development through the years; how they came to be built and who manned them; and the tales of heroism, valour and tragedy that punctuate their history.;For most people, there is a mystique and a sense of romance about lighthouses that have stimulated imaginations since childhood. The lonely lighthouse keeper is thought of standing vigil over his light to ensure that the ships that pass in the night steer a safe course well away from rocky shores and treacherous tides. The profession of the lighthouse keeper was indeed a lonely one. And the functioning of the light and safety of the coast rested on his shoulders and on the action he took in a crisis.;But much has changed in recent times. With the advent of new technologies, lighthouses are virtually all automatic and the era of manned lighthouses seems to have come to an end. South Africa can nonetheless be proud of its present complement of lighthouses that are maintained to the highest standards of excellence.;This book aims to discuss lighthouses and explain their history.