Roman Rock

The Roman Rock Lighthouse is located in False Bay, near Simon's Town, in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It was built in 1861 on a single rock, making it a unique structure in the country. The lighthouse has a cylindrical tower with a balcony and lantern, and it stands at a height of 14 meters with a focal height of 17 meters.

The lighthouse was designed by Alexander Gordon of the British Lighthouse Authority and was a challenging project due to the harsh weather conditions in the area. The construction of the lighthouse was limited to only 96 working days per year, and it took four years to complete. The original lighting mechanism was designed by James De Ville and consisted of a revolving platform with eight single-wick oil burners. Over the years, the lighting mechanism has been updated several times, with the most recent update being in 1992 when it was electrified at the request of the South African Navy.

Today, the Roman Rock Lighthouse is still an important aid to navigation in False Bay. The light is characterized by a flash of white every six seconds. The lighthouse has a rich history, and its unique location and design make it a notable landmark in South Africa. It was first exhibited on September 16, 1861, and has since been an essential part of the country's maritime history.

Light and tower

It has a cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern tower. The tower is built of cast iron. Its daymark is white tower and lantern. The light has a focal height of 17 metres. The light has a range of 20 nautical miles. Its light characteristic is Fl W 6s.

Videos

Oscar Chalupsky takes on Roman Rock Lighthouse, False Bay RSA

Roman Rock Lighthouse