Cape Gata Lighthouse, Lighthouse in Akrotiri, Cyprus
Cape Gata Lighthouse is an octagonal stone tower with white walls and a lantern room at the top. It stands beside a single-story keeper's house at the southwestern tip of the Akrotiri Peninsula.
The lighthouse was built in 1864 to monitor growing Mediterranean shipping traffic. It was established during a period when trade routes between Europe, Africa, and the Middle East were expanding.
The structure represents the architectural preferences of 19th-century British colonial infrastructure, built during the British administration of Cyprus.
The lighthouse sits on a cliff with wide views of the sea, making it easy to find and visit. The area is quite windy and exposed, so be prepared for changing weather conditions.
The structure sits on military territory under British administration even though it is geographically located on Cyprus. This unusual arrangement reflects the complicated political history of the island.
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