It looks like a small lighthouse but it is actually a range light. Two range lights together aid vessels with navigation. This one is a front range light. It works with a rear range light at higher elevation a few hundred meters behind it.
Front range light in the setting sun
Prince Edward Island has shifting sandbars along its shoreline. The channel through Summerside harbour requires careful navigation due to the red sand which fills the bay. The range lights help vessels navigate the harbour.
At night, the lights align one on top of the other if the vessel is on the right bearing. During the day, the lights are less visible, so the red stripes align one on top of the other.
Rear range light
Do we need the range lights and their bigger sister, the lighthouses today with the Global Positioning Systems readily available to every mariner? Many would argue against their maintenance. However, if technology should fail, we would need these traditional structures, the old reliables which stand their ground in all weather and under all new forms of attack.
Shoreside view of the front range light
Besides who would want to lose these beauties from the coastline around the world?
24 comments:
I was just going to write that Marie, even if they are not as needed as they once were they are so beautiful to see along the coast, it would be a disaster to see them disappear ✨
Interesting post thanks for enlightening us. Have a good week, Diane
I never heard of range lights before. Fascinating and yes, we should definitely keep them. Did you get much snow from that awful storm? I have been thinking about you. :-)
I agree they are beautiful and all this new high-tech stuff does, at times, break down and where would that leave you if you'd thrown these out?
Good information. My husband, being a sailor, might well know about this, even though I did not.
Have never heard of range lights before -- thanks for explaining them! I just assume everything is a "lighthouse."
I sometimes feel it is too easy to rely on technology these days - when it fails there is often no backup. I hope these range lights and the lighthouse remain in use for a long time (apart from looking so attractive!).
Range lights is a new term/concept to me. I see them as a kind of Mini lighthouses.
I hope they remain - and would trust them more than new fangled technology.
Hello,
I think they are beautiful. I hope they stay, high tech stuff can have problems. Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week!
Yes, lights like that can't be duplicated with anything else. a GPS doesn't have the same charm.
They are beautiful to see and should not be replaced with just technology. Technology can be hacked and misused. The old reliables are still reliable. Technology can assist but shouldn't replace.
They are beautiful.
If we're casting votes, they stay.
Oh yes. Let’s keep these things around.
I've never heard of range lights. Very interesting. I agree that these old school lights should be kept in place. We know the future can include an attack on digital and satellite systems and we need to be able to guard our coastline in such instances.
Who knew such things as 'range lights' existed! (You clearly!)
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
I always love to see your light. So beautiful!
Range lights are a new concept to me, but what really caught my attention was all those gulls wheeling around over the water!
range lights?? i think i have been calling this a light house for years!! it is beautiful and it seems having them is essential!!!
Exactly right! The beauty of these structures, the function and their history all add to the unique nature of the shore line. After all, would you take away red green lights from intersections when self-driving cars become more common?
So beautiful., especially the last 2 photos.
Modern technology is wonderful but the old ways are tried and true.
The Range lights are needed and do so much for the scenery.
Thanks for all the information, I thought they were just Lighthouses.
Learning something every day..(:0)
Sue
I wouldn't want to depend on technology at all...and like you say...there is the beauty!
They should never be removed or discarded. They are part of PEI. :)
glad you shared this dear Marie
never saw such elegant range lights ,all i know that coastlines have light house to help navigation
i agree that they should exist ,sometimes olden ways are suddenly needed when modern one suspend for while
images are intriguing
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