Horsburgh Lighthouse, Lighthouse on Pedra Branca island, Singapore
Horsburgh Lighthouse is a stone structure on Pedra Branca island, roughly 54 kilometers east of Singapore mainland. It features black and white bands and emits a white light every 10 seconds to guide vessels through the eastern entrance of the Singapore Strait.
The lighthouse entered service in 1851 after British merchants funded its construction to improve maritime safety at the eastern passage. The foundation stone ceremony in 1850 marked the first time anywhere that Masonic traditions were incorporated into a lighthouse project.
The lighthouse bears the name of James Horsburgh, a Scottish hydrographer who created navigation charts between China and India in the early 1800s. His name commemorates a key figure in maritime safety along these important shipping routes.
The structure sits on a rocky island accessible only by boat, with limited opportunities for visiting on land. Planning ahead is necessary and organized tours are the best way to reach this location.
The island of Pedra Branca, where the lighthouse stands, was the subject of a territorial dispute between Singapore and Malaysia over jurisdiction. This geopolitical issue makes the site an interesting point for understanding regional geography and modern history.
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