The oldest of Florida's 6 reef lights, Carysfort Light sits in shimmering shallows 7 miles off Key Largo, Florida.
The Carysfort Reef Lighthouse was designed by Lewis. An engineer by trade he performed a comprehensive study comparing American Lighthouses to those in Europe. Finding those in America lacking, he recommended new ideas and designs making Carysfort one of the first iron screw-pile structures built. The iron skeletal structure would allow much of the wind the waves from hurricanes to blow through it. After funding difficulties, thirty-five-year-old Lieutenant George Meade (later of Civil War fame) was brought in to finish the task which was completed on July 31, 1852 Carysfort Reef is nearest to the Gulfstream shipping lanes, an inherently hazardous location as ships try and hug the coastline, and so became the site of Florida's first Reef Light. Replacing the Lightship Florida, this beacon takes its name from the HMS Carysfort which grounded there in 1770. Located seven miles off of Key Largo, this is still an active beacon operated by the US Coast Guard. Coordinates: 20 13 18N 80 12 42W
Size: 3456px × 5184px
Location: Carysfort Reef, 7 miles off Key Largo,Florida, Atlantic Ocean
Photo credit: © Judy Lovell-Janthina Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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