Portland Bill

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The Portland Bill Lighthouse is a lighthouse in England, on the Isle of Portland in the English Channel. The lighthouse guides the ships to the south-east offshore sand banks Bill and Shambles dominated by the strong tidal currents running water in the port of Weymouth. He is also a landmark for ships in the English Channel. It is operated and maintained by the Trinity House Lighthouse Service, the official English authority with the maintenance of lighthouses and other aids to navigation is commissioned. It is comparable to the Waterways and Shipping Office in Germany.

History

In the early eighteenth century was made a petition to Trinity House by some ship owners and the town of Weymouth, to build a lighthouse that helps you navigate around the Isle of Portland. Trinity House, however, held a tower at this point unnecessary and refused to build. Further efforts finally resulted in an order of May 26, 1716 by George I, at Trinity House to build a tower. This placed the order for 61 years to a private consortium that built two towers (upper and lower tower). These towers were lit by coal fires. After the expiry of the 61 years of operation went back to Trinity House. 1789 one of the two towers was demolished and replaced by a new one with its greater range during the day and at night the ships could lead the English Channel and the port of Weymouth. In this tower developed by Aimé Argand Argand lamp was installed. The Portland Bill lighthouse was the first in England was equipped with this technology.

In 1798, two guns were installed at the lighthouse to repel the possible invasion by Napoleon. 1869, the two old towers were replaced by new buildings. A few years later, in 1906, the present tower was built to replace these two. The old towers remain, one is currently used as a bird observatory. Since 1996, the new tower is automated and is monitored by Trinity House Control Center in Harwich. A visitor center is housed in the tower, which is only open in the summer. During this time, it is also possible to climb the tower.

Signals

The tower has a height of 41 meters, the light is located at an altitude of 43 meters above the sea level. The optics used on the lighthouse is very unusual because of its arrangement. It produces a light four times every 20 seconds is visible. It changes gradually from one to four flashes between 221 degrees and 224 degrees, and from four to a flash between 117 degrees and 141 degrees. The light intensity is 635000 Candela, the range is about 45 km. In fog, a compressor -powered fog horn takes over every 30 seconds for 3.5 seconds, the warning of shipping.

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