Video: How people settled on the world's smallest island
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
When talking about built-up islands, you can imagine anything from snowy Greenland to Hawaii with palm trees, bright sun and simple houses made of handy materials. However, there are islands that do not fit into this image at all. So, the smallest built-up skeleton in the world is Bishop Rock in the south-west of England, and you need to try pretty hard to see this rock.
Difficulties may arise due to the fact that literally the entire area of Bishop Rock (Cornish Men an Eskob, English Bishop Rock) now stands a lighthouse. It seems as if he himself grew out of the sea. It really has been here for a very long time - the Bishop Lighthouse is already 160 years old. The islet is located in a very convenient strategic place and is almost the westernmost point of England, so attempts to build it began even earlier - 10 years before, in fact, they were crowned with success.
In 1847, the first lighthouse was erected on Bishop Island. Since this area is known for its strong waves, the engineers decided to build not a monolithic structure, but a lighthouse on supports, so that the waves seemed to pass through it. First, they put piles, and then they planned to add a part for, in fact, the lighthouse itself. But this whole structure was not stable enough, and aggressive waves at the very first storm destroyed everything that was built, so it was no longer possible to use the lighthouse. Four years later, the construction attempt was repeated, only this time they approached the matter very thoroughly. Engineer J. Walker supervised the construction of the lighthouse, and he ordered to bring huge granite blocks to the island, which in total amounted to almost 3000 tons.
Construction proceeded slowly, since the blocks could only be transported in calm weather. They lay for a long time, numbered, on the shore and waited for their turn. The lighthouse was erected for seven long years before it finally started working.
Even later, even this monumental structure was strengthened even more - the same amount was added to the existing 3000 tons of granite, an additional fortification was built around the lighthouse in the form of granite cladding, and inside the structure was reinforced with iron beams. From a distance, the lighthouse still looks quite fragile, but close up it is more than a serious structure 49 meters high and even with a landing pad for a helicopter.
At the very beginning, the light of the lighthouse was created by the most ordinary paraffin candles. A little later, they were replaced by kerosene lamps. A caretaker was supposed to be on duty at the lighthouse, maintaining the light for passing ships. And only in 1976, at the Bishop lighthouse, for the first time, generators with lamps were installed. This greatly facilitated the work of the lighthouse keeper, but has not yet completely eliminated his tasks. The last caretaker left his workplace in this lighthouse only in December 1992 - after that the lighthouse became fully automated.
Today the lighthouse has 10 floors, and part of the premises can be rented for spending the night. This is an unusual "hotel", however, there are those who wish for such an experience. The lighthouse can accommodate up to four people at a time and stay there for one to three weeks.
We also talked about the whole dozen amazing lighthouses, each of which can be considered a new wonder of the world.
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