Stella Maris Light, Lighthouse on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel
Stella Maris Light is an octagonal tower on Mount Carmel with red and white vertical stripes and a black dome on top. The structure rises about 20 meters above ground and sits within an Israeli Navy base near the Stella Maris Monastery.
The current structure was built in 1864 on the site of a former palace connected to Abdullah Pasha, a local ruler of the early 1800s. The lighthouse foundation was partly constructed using stones from an older Carmelite monastery that occupied the same hillside.
The name Stella Maris refers to a Marian devotion associated with this mountain for centuries. Visitors can sense the religious meaning of the place from the nearby monastery, which blends with its role as a maritime beacon.
The lighthouse sits within a military security zone and is usually not directly accessible to the public. The best view of the tower and its distinctive red and white stripes can be found from the nearby monastery or from viewing points higher up on the mountain.
The original light lens system and building plans are preserved at the Israeli National Maritime Museum, documenting the region's maritime history. Original components from this early navigation period help visitors understand the technical advances in seafaring.
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