A caisson lighthouse (also referred to as a sparkplug lighthouse, or bug light) is a type of lighthouse whose superstructure rests on a concrete or metal caisson.[1] Caisson lighthouses were developed in the late nineteenth century as a cheaper alternative to screwpile lighthouses. The Caisson design was also more efficient as it could better withstand harsh weather, and were not as fragile. Caisson lighthouses usually have living quarters made of cast iron, although some brick examples are known. The two American nicknames were later coined because of the structure's shape.[1]
Gallery
Wolf Trap Light
a caisson lighthouse in the Chesapeake Bay
Butler Flats Light
stands in open water about 15 feet (4.6 m) deep, about 1,800 feet (550 m) from land
Greens Ledge Light
stands in open water about 10 feet (3.0 m) deep, about 1 km from land
Sakonnet Light
is on a small rock
Saybrook Breakwater Light
is at the end of a breakwater
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See also
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Media related to Lighthouses built on caissons at Wikimedia Commons
References
- ^ a b "Sparkplug Lighthouses, 1871-1926". Rowlett. Retrieved February 27, 2018.