Cape Point's historic lighthouse lies 249m above sea level.
It had a white flashing light of 2000 candlepower which could be
seen 67km out to sea. Unfortuanately the lighthouse was often
covered by mist and cloud, and so proved to be ineffective. The
Portuguese liner "Lusitania" was wrecked at the Cape in 1911, after
which it was decided to erect the present lighthouse on Dias Point
(below), 87m above sea level.
Around 1860 cottages were built near the lighthouse. These
cottages provided free accommodation for visitors to the lighthouse.
One of the cottages served as a dining room, and the other as a
sleeping room, with both being fully equipped. Lighthouse-keepers
& their families often felt lonely & isolated, and the
provision of the cottages encouraged visitors. From 1977 the
cottages were used by the CSIR as a laboratory for atmospheric
research. In 1984, the laboratory was extended and became part of
the World Meteorological Organisation's Global Atmosphere Watch Network.
The view of Diaz Beach, from the historic Cape Point lighthouse.
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