Great Isaac Lighthouse

Great Isaac Lighthouse is a lighthouse on the small Bahamian island of Great Isaac Cay. Erected in 1859, it is located about 20 miles (32 km) NNE of the Bimini Islands, and accessible only by boat. The lighthouse stands about 151 feet (46 m) tall.

Great Isaac Lighthouse

Great Isaac Cay Lighthouse in 2017
Location	Great Isaac Cay, Bimini, The Bahamas
Coordinates	26°01′42″N 79°05′22″W
Tower
Constructed	1851
Foundation	concrete base
Construction	cast iron tower
Shape	tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings	white tower, black lantern
Power source	solar power
Operator	Bahamas Port Department[1][2]
Light
First lit	1859
Deactivated	2000-2008
Focal height	46 m (151 ft)
Range	23 nmi (43 km; 26 mi)
Characteristic	Fl W 15s

Vanished keepers

On August 4, 1969, the station was discovered to have been abandoned by its two keepers, who were never found.^[3] Many believers in the Bermuda Triangle claim that the keepers were two more victims lost to its mysterious forces.^[4] However, the hurricane record from 1969 indicates that Hurricane Anna, the first hurricane of 1969, on 1–2 August, passed close enough to Great Isaac Island to cause dangerous weather for the tiny rock island. By the 4th of August, the hurricane was well into the Atlantic Ocean.

Public site

The grounds are open to the public, although the lighthouse itself has had stairs removed to block access to the interior of that structure. The keepers’ house, cistern, and assorted buildings are crumbling into ruins. The derelict collection of abandoned buildings make Great Isaac Cay a popular destination for boaters.

See also

• List of lighthouses in the Bahamas