燈塔在我們的日常生活中,實在是談不上有什麽關聯更說不上有什麽淵源的一項地標。但在過去的年代,陸路依賴馬匹,水路則靠船隻,遠洋的人們返家時,即使是黑夜,仍不會弄錯歸途的方向,這一切有賴於燈塔-安全及指引方向的象徵。在電力尚未普及前,是在山頂上點燃火焰作為照明及方向引領,後來漸演變成燈塔。
而由於現代的導航設備已經非常先進,人為操作的燈塔數量大大減少,全世界只剩下 1,500 個使用中的燈塔。即使許多燈塔已失去其實用性,但它們所蘊含的歷史及意義可供我們作為遺迹來欣賞。在美國,8 月 7 日還是全國燈塔日呢!
Phare du Petit Minou, Brest, France, Image credits: Alexander Riek
Cast-Iron Lighthouse, Whiteford, UK, Image credits: Matthew Jones
Victoria Beach Lighthouse (Built In 1926), California, USA, Image credits: Dave Gaylord
Viavelez, Asturias, Spain, Image credits: Manu Díaz
Frozen St. Joseph North Pier Lighthouse, Michigan, USA, Image credit: Thomas Zakowski
Image credits: Charles Anderson
Lighthouse Of Talacre, Wales, UK, Image credits: Iain McConnell
San Esteban De Pravia, Spain, Image credits: Saghani
Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales, Image credits: Joe Daniel Price
Lighthouse Of Fastnet Rock, Ireland, Image credits: Fergal O’Callaghan
The Lange Nelle Lighthouse, Ostend, Belgium, Image credits: Piet Flour