Guard Island Light, Lighthouse near Tongass Narrows entrance, Ketchikan Gateway Borough, US
Guard Island Light is a lighthouse positioned at the entrance to Tongass Narrows near Ketchikan in Southeast Alaska. The tower is constructed from reinforced concrete and stands white with a black lantern mounted at the top, attached to an oil house.
The lighthouse was built in 1904 during the Klondike Gold Rush to guide ships through the Inside Passage. The original tower was replaced with a reinforced concrete structure in 1924.
The lighthouse represents the maritime navigation heritage of Southeast Alaska, marking safe passages for vessels through the Clarence Strait waters.
The lighthouse operates automatically and emits a white flash every 10 seconds, visible for about 17 nautical miles in clear conditions. Visiting the site requires viewing it from the water, making a boat tour the most practical way to see it and take photographs.
The light source sits approximately 74 feet (23 meters) above sea level due to the tower's 30-foot (9 meters) concrete height. This elevation was critical to ensure visibility for mariners navigating the challenging waters in this area.
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