Morant Point Lighthouse, Cast iron lighthouse at Morant Point, Jamaica.
Morant Point Lighthouse is a 100-foot-tall cylindrical structure with red and white horizontal bands located at Jamaica's easternmost point. The cast iron tower tapers from a 18-foot base to 11 feet at the top.
Built in 1841, this structure was the first cast iron lighthouse of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. It was designed by Alexander Gordon and cast in a London foundry.
Kru men from Africa worked as free laborers after emancipation to build this navigation landmark. Their craftsmanship shaped this important maritime structure.
This working navigation aid is operated by Jamaica's Port Authority and functions with a specific light signal pattern. A large semicircular masonry wall protects the foundation from hurricane and wave damage.
This lighthouse can be seen from approximately 22 nautical miles away, making it a critical reference point for ships navigating the eastern Caribbean. Few visitors realize it remains one of the oldest cast iron structures of its type still functioning in active maritime service.
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