| These are pictures taken on our last evening on the island of San Salvador in the Bahamas. This is the last working hand cranked wick burning lighthouse in the world. The reflector is illuminated by a kerosene wick that is supplied fuel by mercury pumps in the center of the structure. The walls of the lighthouse are an amazing three to four feet thick solid concrete. The reflector rotates by a hand cranked ballast system. It has to be cranked every two hours to keep the lamp rotating all night. When the crank is turned it raises a ballast (large weight) crank by crank until it reaches the top of the lighthouse. When turned on the ballast slowly lowers down through the center of the lighthouse and turns the gears that spin the reflector. It is amazing that someone came up with this idea way back in the 1800s. The lighthouse is maintained by family decendents that still live in a house right beside the lighthouse and they welcome your visits. Hope you enjoy the pictures. |
