Jamestown Lighthouse, Maritime beacon in Jamestown, Greater Accra Region, Ghana.
Jamestown Lighthouse is a stone tower about 92 feet (28 m) tall on the coast of Accra, instantly recognizable by its horizontal red and white stripes. At the base of the tower sits a keeper's dwelling that remains part of the structure today.
The current tower was built in 1930, replacing an earlier navigation aid that had been in place since 1871. The new structure was taller and better suited to guiding vessels along the Ghanaian coast.
The lighthouse stands in Jamestown, an old fishing neighborhood where boats go out and return daily within sight of the tower. The striped silhouette is a familiar reference point for people who live and work along this stretch of coast.
Getting to the top means climbing a narrow spiral staircase that leads to a viewing platform with views over the harbor and the city. The steps are steep and the space is tight, so take your time on the way up.
The tower emits a specific flashing pattern that sailors use to pinpoint their position along the coast at night. Each lighthouse has its own pattern, and this one is listed in official nautical charts used by ships passing through the Gulf of Guinea.
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