Scotch Cap Light, Light station at southwest corner of Unimak Island, United States
Scotch Cap Light is an automated light station at the southwest corner of Unimak Island in Alaska. The facility features a skeletal steel tower and concrete building structure that work together to mark the passage for vessels traveling between the Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea.
The original light tower was built in 1903 as an octagonal wooden structure about 45 feet tall. A new concrete building replaced the original structure in 1940, providing a more durable facility for navigational operations.
The name comes from Scottish fur traders who worked in the region during early colonial times. Today the site is maintained by Coast Guard personnel who keep watch over the surrounding waters and passing vessels.
The location is remote and weather conditions can be severe, so proper protective gear is essential for any visit. Visitors should be prepared for strong winds and rough ocean conditions typical of this exposed coastal area.
A massive tsunami in 1946 triggered by an earthquake created a wave over 100 feet high that completely destroyed the station and claimed the lives of five personnel stationed there. This event remains one of the most powerful tsunamis recorded in Alaska's maritime history.
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