Jaffa Light

Jaffa Light (Hebrew: מגדלור יפו‎) is a lighthouse in Jaffa, Israel. It is located on a hilltop above the old Jaffa Port. It operated between 1865 and 1966, although it is still used as a daylight navigation aid.[2]

This article is about the lighthouse. For the decommissioned lighthouse in South Australia, see Cape Jaffa Lighthouse.
Jaffa Light
Yafo
Jaffa Light, 2006
LocationJaffa, Israel
Coordinates32°3′12.45″N 34°45′1.82″E
Year first constructed1865
Year first lit1936
Deactivated1966
Constructionconcrete tower
Tower shapecylindrical tower with four ribs, lantern and gallery
Markings / patternred and white horizontal bands tower
Tower height10 metres (33 ft)
Focal height10 metre 
CharacteristicFl (4) W 14s.[1]
Admiralty numberN5962.5
NGA number113-21258
ARLHS numberISR-005

History
Jaffa Light, c. 1900

Jaffa Light was built by French engineers[3][4] in 1865. It was built as part of operations carried out by the Ottoman authorities to improve the port facilities, mainly due to the increase in export of citrus fruit, and especially oranges, the well known "Jaffa oranges".

In 1936 the British expanded the port and rebuilt the lighthouse.[1][5]

In 1965 the Port of Ashdod was built, replacing Jaffa Port. In 1966 the crystal glass was taken to be used in the Ashdod Light, and the lighthouse was shut down.[5] Jaffa Port become a small craft port.

The lighthouse keeper from 1875 was an Armenian who came from Jerusalem. He was trained by the same French company who built the lighthouse. Around 1938 his son was trained by the same French company and replaced him, probably as result of the lighthouse being rebuilt. His grandson, Abu George, was the "technician", responsible for keeping the lamp lit. The son was the official keeper until the lighthouse was shut down in 1966.[4]

The lamp on the 1936 lighthouse was a Carbide lamp.[4]

The lighthouse appeared on a stamp issued on 26 November 2009 in Israel.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Lighthouses in Israel". Philately News. Archived from the original on 2011-05-06. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  2. Amit Harry (25 August 2009). "טיפים לשטים בנמל יפו" [Tips for Sailing in the Jaffa Port]. Jaffa Portal. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  3. "מגדלי אור והיסטוריה בחופי ישראל" [Lighthouses and History at the Shores of Israel]. Sailing News Magazine. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  4. "חופי הכרך תל אביב יפו" [On the waterfront Tel-Aviv Jaffa]. shezaf.net. Retrieved 27 July 2010. Note that Abu George is quoted saying "I had to watch the Carbide lamp, feed it kerosene every two hours.", which makes little sense.
  5. "מדריך טיולים - יפו העתיקה" [Old Jaffa - Tour Guide]. travel-israel.co.il. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
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