Pladda Lighthouse facts for kids
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| Pladda Lighthouse | |
 Pladda High Lighthouse
Location in Scotland
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| Location | Pladda Firth of Clyde Scotland |
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| Coordinates | 55°25′30″N 5°07′06″W / 55.425129°N 5.118362°W |
| Year first constructed | 1790 |
| Automated | 1990 |
| Construction | masonry tower |
| Tower shape | cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | white tower, black lantern, ochre trim |
| Height | 29 metres (95 ft) |
| Focal height | 40 metres (130 ft) |
| Range | 17 nautical miles (31 km; 20 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl (3) W 30s. |
| Admiralty number | A4326 |
| NGA number | 4316 |
| ARLHS number | SCO-172 |
Pladda Lighthouse is an old but still working lighthouse. It stands on the southern tip of the small island of Pladda. This island is found in the Firth of Clyde, a large bay in Scotland. Lighthouses like Pladda help ships find their way safely at sea.
Contents
Pladda Lighthouse: A Guiding Light
Built a Long Time Ago
The Pladda Lighthouse was built in 1790. It was designed by an engineer named Thomas Smith. This lighthouse was special because it was the very first one in the Clyde area to be ordered by the Northern Lighthouse Board. This board is in charge of lighthouses around Scotland.
When it was first built, Pladda Lighthouse had two lights. One was higher up and one was lower down. This helped sailors tell it apart from other lighthouses nearby. In 1876, Pladda was one of the first lighthouses to get a foghorn. A foghorn makes a loud sound to warn ships when it's foggy and they can't see the light.
How the Light Works
In 1901, the two separate lights were replaced. A single, powerful flashing light system was installed. This new system made the lighthouse even better at guiding ships.
The lighthouse tower is 29 meters (about 95 feet) tall. To reach the very top, you would need to climb 128 steps! The light flashes three times in white every 30 seconds. On a clear day, this light can be seen from about 17 nautical miles away. A nautical mile is a special unit of distance used at sea, a bit longer than a regular mile.
Modern Times for the Lighthouse
For many years, people called "lightkeepers" lived at the lighthouse. They made sure the light was always working. But in 1990, the lighthouse became "automated." This means machines took over the work. The lightkeepers moved away.
Now, the Pladda Lighthouse is watched over from far away. It is monitored by computers at the Northern Lighthouse Board's main office in Edinburgh.
A Book About Pladda
The island of Pladda and its lighthouse are important in a book called Stargazing: Memoirs of a Young Lighthouse Keeper. It was written by Peter Hill. The book shares stories about what it was like to live and work as a lighthouse keeper.
