Wuqiu Lighthouse

The Wuqiu Lighthouse (Chinese: 烏坵嶼燈塔; pinyin: Wūqiū Yǔ Dēngtǎ) is a lighthouse in Daqiu Village, Wuqiu Township (Ockseu), Kinmen County (Quemoy), Fujian Province (Fukien), Republic of China (Taiwan).[3][4]

Wuqiu Lighthouse
Wuqiu Lighthouse
Taiwan
LocationWuqiu, Kinmen, Taiwan
Coordinates24.992045°N 119.452948°E / 24.992045; 119.452948
Year first constructed1874
Deactivated1951-2017
Constructionstone tower
Tower shapecylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / patternblack tower and lantern
Tower height19.5 meters (64 ft)
Focal height87.2 meters (286 ft)
Range11.3 nautical miles (20.9 km; 13.0 mi) [1]
CharacteristicFl W 5s.
Admiralty numberP3628
NGA number19124
ARLHS numberTAI-035
Managing agentMaritime and Port Bureau[2]
Heritagecountry-level monument 

History
Wuqiu Lighthouse (labeled as 'Light' on Wu-ch'iu Hsü (Ockseu) 烏坵嶼) (1953)

The lighthouse was constructed by the Netherlands in 1874 with engineer David Marr Henderson and deputy engineer John Ropinald to serve as navigation aid for ships sailing between Fuzhou and Xiamen. The lighthouse lost its top structure during World War II and was repaired afterwards to become a lower black lighthouse in 1947. However, the lighthouse became inactive in 1951 as part of military strategy due to the tension with People's Liberation Army. In 1960-1975, works were made to improve the lighthouse, such as concreting the wall, increasing its height, adding house inside the wall and creating a connecting tunnel. In 2001, the lighthouse was officially closed after it was placed under the jurisdiction of the Republic of China Armed Forces.[5] On 23 July 2017, the Maritime and Port Bureau signed an agreement with the armed forces to take over the lighthouse. Currently, the Wuqiu Township government is trying to register the lighthouse to be a national historic site.[6]

Architecture

The lighthouse tower is a cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery. It is located on the highest point of Daqiu Island.

Technical details

This manned-lighthouse focal plane is 87 meters, radiating a white flash every 5 seconds.

Lightkeepers
  • 1885 - C.M. Peterson (in charge) and J. Chapman[7]

See also

References
  1. Wuchiu Yu Lighthouse Maritime and Port Bureau. Retrieved April 17, 2016
  2. Wuqiu The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved April 17, 2016
  3. "Historic spot".
  4. "Lighthouses of Taiwan: Matsu and Kinmen".
  5. Wang, Shu-fen; Kao, Evelyn (23 July 2017). "Century-old Kinmen lighthouse shines again". Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  6. "Wuciou Lighthouse".
  7. The Chronicle & Directory for China, Corea, Japan, the Philippines, Cochin China, Annam, Tonquin, Siam, Borneo, Straits Settlements, Malay States, &c. for the Year 1885. Hong Kong: Daily Press. 1885. pp. 69, 181, 352. FOREIGN RESIDENTS.{...}Chapman, J., lightkeepter, Ockseu, Amoy{...}Peterson, C. M., lightkeeper, Ockseu Island, Amoy{...}AMOY.{...}MARINE DEPARTMENT. CHINA COAST LIGHTS, SOUTHERN SECTION.{...}LIGHTKEEPERS.{...}Ockseu-C. M. Peterson (in charge), J. Chapman
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.