Creal Reef Light facts for kids
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| The light is the tower on the left | |
 Creal Reef Light
Location in Queensland
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| Location | Mackay Queensland Australia |
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| Coordinates | 20°32′02.3″S 150°22′49.84″E / 20.533972°S 150.3805111°E |
| Year first constructed | 1985 |
| Foundation | reinforced concrete on four piles |
| Construction | stainless steel skeletal tower |
| Tower shape | square pyramidal tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | white tower with an orange square daymark in the upper half |
| Height | 34.5 metres (113 ft) |
| Focal height | 32 metres (105 ft) |
| Current lens | VRB-25 |
| Intensity | 104,000 cd |
| Characteristic | Fl W 7.5s |
| Racon | M |
| Admiralty number | K3052 |
| NGA number | 111-10229 |
The Creal Reef Light is an active lighthouse located on Creal Reef. This reef is a coral reef about 150 kilometers (93 miles) east of Mackay in Queensland, Australia. Its main job is to help guide ships safely.
The light helps ships leaving Mackay find their way into Hydrographers Passage. This is a deep water channel that ships use to travel east from Mackay. The lighthouse itself is a tall tower made of stainless steel. It also works as a daymark, which is a special sign for ships to see during the day. Plus, it has a racon, which is a device that helps ships find their location using radar.
About Creal Reef
Creal Reef is a coral reef that covers an area of about 1.6 square kilometers (0.62 square miles). It got its name in the late 1920s. Captain John A. Edgell of the Royal Navy named it during a survey trip. He was on the survey ship HMAS Moresby.
The reef was named after Denis A. J. Creal. He was a pilot with the No. 101 Flight RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force). Denis Creal helped the Moresby with their important survey work.
How the Lighthouse Works
The Creal Reef Light was built in April 1985. It is a 21-meter (69-foot) tall tower made of stainless steel. It has a white light at the top. The tower stands on a strong reinforced concrete base, which is held up by four large piles. The total height of the structure, from the ground to the very top, is 34.5 meters (113 feet). An automatic weather station is also located at the same spot.
The light flashes white every 7.5 seconds. This flash can be seen from about 19 nautical miles (35 kilometers) away. The lighthouse uses solar power to work. It has a special light system called a VRB-25 that rotates slowly. The light source is a 12-volt, 75-watt Halogen lamp. It shines with an intensity of 104,000 candelas, which is very bright!
The racon, which helps ships with radar, is located 34 meters (112 feet) high. It sends out a morse code signal for the letter "M" (which is two dashes). This signal can be picked up by ships up to 16 nautical miles (30 kilometers) away.
During the day, ships can see the lighthouse because of its "daymark." This daymark is made of two orange slats. Each slat is 3 meters (9.8 feet) wide and 7 meters (23 feet) tall. They are placed on the northern and western sides of the tower. These slats are about 33 meters (108 feet) above the average high tide level.
Visiting the Lighthouse
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority manages and operates the Creal Reef Light. The reef itself can only be reached by boat. However, the lighthouse and the area around it are not open to the public.
