Cape Recife Lighthouse

I wish I had more time to go and explore Cape Recife Nature Reserve more often with my camera.  It offers so many photo opportunities, one of these being the Cape Recife Lighthouse.  The lighthouse was built in 1851 on the western point of Algoa Bay.  Cape Recife is one of the major turning points on the South African coastline and the lighthouse warns ships of Thunderbolt Reef and other hazards which they have to give a wide berth.  The tower stands 24 metres high and is equipped with a fog signal, radio beacon, a red light (28º) and the main flashing white light (332º) that shines every 30 seconds and is visible up to 29 nautical miles out to sea.

This Post Has 19 Comments

  1. Ann (MobayDP)

    Oh welcome to City Daily Photo sue and Max! I’m so enjoying your pictures and commentary so far and am looking forward to kearning more about Port Elizabeth!

  2. Sharon

    Great photo. I'm struck by the stark beauty of this site.

  3. Anonymous

    Do they still let people go up inside, Firefly? When I was much younger, I visited with a (school??) group and we got to go all the way up to the light. I also remember when a whale washed up at Cape Recife in the 70s, and half of PE turned out to see it.Diane

  4. DelBoy

    Great photo. I love the contrast between the sand and the blue sky.

  5. Leif Hagen

    What a HUGE beach and handsome lighthouse compound!

  6. Firefly

    Diane, you can still go up the lighthouse. As for the whale. Another dead whale washed up recently and also attracted a lot of poeple.

  7. photography.rmb

    Very nice, love the comp and colours!! I would love to go up the lighthouse, how does one organise that?

  8. photography.rmb

    Wow, these are great, really love the last one with the shell, a good dof you got there!!

  9. Karin

    Ooh, very nice!! I like the second one best.

  10. Gaelyn

    Nice beach and lighthouse. Is that last one a shell, rock, or coral? Love the colors and patterns.

  11. Firefly

    Gealyn, that last one is a shell

  12. Avril

    Wow – beautiful!! Love the emptiness … and the colours … and the balance in the photos! You are so lucky having this environment around you

  13. Janet

    I LOVE light houses – and that last photograph is awsome. I think it's time for a holiday by the sea … no, the bush … no, the sea … oh whatever … a holiday would be good! LOL!

  14. Firefly

    photography.rmb – I'm not too sure. I did see a number on one of the South African Lighthouses websites when I was doing research on this. Otherwise contact SAMREC in the Cape Receife Nature Reserve. The said that they know were going to do tours up the lighthouse but decided agaist it due to staff shortages.

  15. Tami

    Wow! This is a really great set. I am totally hooked on that last one.But I like the vastness and the sun flare of number 2…..not to discredit the first one at all though.

  16. Steffi

    Wow…wonderful place!I wish I could be there!

  17. Jeanne

    Great shot – such a wild and isolated-feeling plae so close to the city!

  18. Gaelyn

    Nice shot.

Comments are closed.