Frying Pan Shoals Light, Maritime lighthouse in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States.
Frying Pan Shoals Light is a steel framework lighthouse 32 miles (51 km) off the coast of North Carolina in the Atlantic Ocean. The construction stands on four massive steel legs above the water and contains several levels with living quarters and a lantern at the top.
The tower was built in 1966 as a replacement for a lightship that had served these dangerous waters since 1854. After 37 years of operation, the beacon was decommissioned in 2003 and the facility was later taken over by a nonprofit organization.
The name comes from the shallow underwater sandbars shaped like a frying pan that threatened ships for centuries. Science teams work here regularly and use the tower as a floating research base for ocean and weather studies.
Travel is only possible with private boats or helicopters as there are no regular ferry connections. Visits are only possible by prior arrangement and require a certain level of fitness because of the steep ladders between levels.
After Hurricane Florence in 2018, a torn flag remained at the top for days and became a symbol of resilience. The Coast Guard named the flag Kevin after photos of it went viral on social media.
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