Girdleness Lighthouse, Maritime navigation tower in Aberdeen, Scotland
Girdleness Lighthouse is a white cylindrical tower standing 37 meters above the Aberdeen coast, topped with a black lantern chamber. It sends two white flashes every 20 seconds and remains visible from the shoreline as a tall, distinctive marker.
The lighthouse was built in 1833 following the tragic sinking of the whaling ship Oscar in 1813, which caused numerous deaths. Robert Stevenson designed the tower in response to this disaster, aiming to reduce navigation hazards for vessels on this coast.
The name Girdleness comes from Gaelic words meaning "the green headland" and refers to the peninsula where the lighthouse stands. Visitors approaching from the shore can see why this location has long served as a distinctive landmark for seafarers navigating these waters.
The lighthouse operates automatically and is monitored by the Northern Lighthouse Board from Edinburgh, with its light projecting up to 22 nautical miles. Visitors can observe the tower from the surrounding coastal paths, though direct access to the structure itself may be restricted.
The lighthouse was originally equipped with a foghorn device called the Torry Coo, which operated until 1987 and produced a distinctive sound resembling cattle lowing. This unusual sound could be heard from up to 20 kilometers away and remains a curious chapter in the site's maritime history.
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