Santa Cruz Breakwater Light, Maritime lighthouse in Santa Cruz Harbor, California.
Santa Cruz Breakwater Light is a 12.6-metre cylindrical concrete tower on the western jetty of Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor. The tower is painted white with a green band around the gallery, and its lantern sits at a focal height of 18 metres. It is also known as Walton Lighthouse.
The structure replaced an earlier simple light in 2001 after the community spent years raising funds for the project. Local businessman Charles Walton provided financial support for this new construction.
The lighthouse is named after Derek Walton, a merchant marine who died at sea during World War II. The name honors people who worked at sea and faced serious dangers in their profession.
Access is along a path that runs the length of the breakwater, starting from Atlantic Avenue and leading directly to the lighthouse. Watch out for occasional large waves that can wash over the jetty during tidal changes.
The tower is also fitted with a foghorn that sounds one blast every 30 seconds. Its green light sits at a focal height of 18 metres and shows one flash every 4 seconds, reaching 8 nautical miles. The structure is listed as Admiralty G4002 and USCG 6-0300.
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