Horsburgh lighthouse

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Coordinates: 1°19′81″N, 104°24′34″E

The Horsburgh Lighthouse (Chinese: 霍士堡灯塔) is a lighthouse which marks the eastern entrance to the Straits of Singapore. It situated on Pedra Branca, which is currently the subject of dispute between Singapore and Malaysia (Malaysia calls the island Pulau Batu Puteh). It is Singapore's earliest lighthouse by date of completion, unless the country fails in the case at International Court of Justice expected to be heard in 2007. It is located approximately 54 kilometres to the East of Singapore and 14 km from Johor.

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[edit] Naming

The Horsburgh Lighthouse was named after Captain James Horsburgh[1] (September 28, 1762 - May 14, 1836), a Scottish hydrographer from the East India Company, who mapped many seaways around Singapore in the late 18th century and early 19th century. He was called "The Nautical Oracle of the World". His charts and books allowed ships to navigate through treacherous areas of the ocean, saving many lives and property on the seas between China and India.

[edit] Location

It situated on Pedra Branca, which is currently the subject of dispute between Singapore and Malaysia (Malaysia calls the island Pulau Batu Puteh). It is Singapore's earliest lighthouse by date of completion, unless the country fails in the case at International Court of Justice expected to be heard in 2007. It is located approximately 54 kilometres to the East of Singapore and 14 km from Johor.

The lighthouse was built over an outcrop of rocks that for centuries was identified on maps as Pedra Branca and batu puteh (white rocks in Portuguese and Malay respectively). It was built by John Turnbull Thomson (1821 - 1884), a government surveyor. In the presence of Governor William John Butterworth and other dignitaries, the lighthouse foundation stone was laid on 24 May 1850 and was completed in 1851. The lighthouse is also known as Pedra Branca Lighthouse or Pulau Batu Puteh Lighthouse.

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[edit] Characteristics

  • Latitude: 01°19'.81N
  • Longitude: 104°24'.34E
  • ARLHS No: SIN-001
  • Admiralty No: F1820
  • US NGA No: 21188
  • Tower Height: 34 m
  • Height of Focal Plane: 31 m
  • Characteristic and Range: Flashing white every 10 seconds.
  • Description of Tower: Conical tower with black and white horizontal bands.
  • Status: This light is operational
  • Date Established: 1851
  • Date Present Tower Built: 1851

[edit] See also

[edit] Reference

  • Victor R Savage, Brenda S A Yeoh (2003), Toponymics - A Study of Singapore Street Names, Eastern Universities Press, ISBN 981-210-205-1

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

[edit] Reference

  • Victor R Savage, Brenda S A Yeoh (2003), Toponymics - A Study of Singapore Street Names, Eastern Universities Press, ISBN 981-210-205-1

[edit] External links

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