Thursday, July 23, 2009

Skywatch Friday No. 54: Highland Light

Highland Light also knows as Cape Cod Light at Truro, Cape Cod on the side of Atlantic ocean. It is the first light that vessels from Europe saw when they were approaching Massachusetts bay. This part of the ocean between Cape Ann and Nantucket was very dangerous with numerous shipwrecks. Here is a view when we approach the light house from inland.

Highland Light was the first lighthouse of Cape Cod. It was authorized by George Washington in 1796 and completed on 1797. Here is a view of the lighthouse from the ocean side. By 1990, the lighthouse was in danger of falling into the ocean due to beach erosion. The original lighthouse was 500 feet from the cliff, by 1990, it was 100 feet from the ocean and it lost another half of it in that year. 1.5 million dollars was raised and the lighthouse and the keeper's house were moved 570 feet from the cliff in 1997.

Here is a closer view of the lighthouse and keeper's house. It was again a beautiful July day on Cape Cod with clear blue sky.

Here is the edge of the cliff that has kept on been eroded.

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14 comments:

Rajesh said...

Very interesting. Liked the way it was moved away from the sea to protect the historic monument from falling into sea. Nice to know people are caring.

Maria said...

The blue ocean color in the last photo is striking... I can hear the Thank you's coming from the lighthouse! Thank you, Thank You, Thank You for saving me!
Grace & Joy to you, Maria

Carol said...

These are great shots, Grace and Bradley. Cape Cod is so beautiful....love the lighthouse shots from both sides...and I love the weathered look of many houses there..

airplane5312 said...

Marvelous light house photos.

Jane Hards Photography said...

The area I just fall in love a little more each time I see an image of it. The light is always so gorgeous.

Esther Garvi said...

Beautiful!!

Sylvia K said...

What terrific shots! Love the color of the ocean in the last one! And the lighthouse is beautiful! Something about a lighthouse that is special!

Have a great weekend!
Sylvia

Baruch said...

Beautiful and interesting - nice work

Reader Wil said...

It's good that the lighthouse should be removed. That's the problem with buildings on the coast: erosion!

bowledover said...

That erosion of the cliff must leave people in a constant state of worry.
The light house is a monument worth every penny it cost to save it.
Lovely captures.
Have a lovely weekend.

Rune Eide said...

A very interesting post and well documented too. I'm glad they managed to raise the money for the moving of the lighthouse.

Mark Kreider said...

The color of the sky and water nearly match.

Tammie Lee said...

beautiful clean images!

DeniseinVA said...

Oh my, those are the most beautiful photographs and a very interesting post. Thanks for sharing them and have a great weekend.

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