Grand-Bassam Lightouse, Colonial lighthouse in Grand-Bassam, Côte d'Ivoire.
The Grand-Bassam Lighthouse is a masonry tower built during the colonial period, standing on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Lagune Ouladine. It has a white exterior wall and a keeper's house that shows how the site once functioned as a working station.
The tower was built in 1915 during French colonial rule to help guide ships safely along the coast. It ceased its work around 1951 when changes to the lagoon made its light no longer necessary for navigation.
This tower is part of Grand-Bassam's colonial past and shows how maritime trade shaped the town's development. Walking around it, you can see how it sits within the broader colonial settlement that defined the coastline.
The site is open during daylight hours, allowing you to walk around and look at the structure and the colonial buildings nearby. It works best to visit when the sun is strong so you can see all the details of the tower and surrounding area clearly.
Even though the tower no longer shines, it still carries official codes in international shipping records. Its name lives on in maritime documents even though ships no longer need its guidance.
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