Exploring Angola's Distance From Fort Gratiot Lighthouse

The distance between Angola and Fort Gratiot Lighthouse is a considerable one, with Angola being a nation in southwestern Africa, located south of the Congo and north of Namibia, and Fort Gratiot Lighthouse situated in Port Huron, Michigan, in the United States. The lighthouse, built in 1825, is the oldest in the Great Lakes region and stands at 82 feet tall, overlooking Lake Huron and the St. Clair River. Angola, on the other hand, boasts a coastline of 1600 kilometres facing the South Atlantic Ocean. While the specific distance between these two locations is challenging to pinpoint due to their separation by a vast distance and an entire ocean, it is evident that they are far apart.

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse's history

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse in Port Huron, Michigan, is the oldest surviving lighthouse in the state and the oldest on the Great Lakes. It was established in 1825 and has been rebuilt several times since then.

The military Fort Gratiot, named after General Charles Gratiot, was built in 1814 during the War of 1812 to guard the juncture of Lake Huron and the St. Clair River. As vessel traffic on the Great Lakes increased in the 1820s, so did the need for a navigational aid at the mouth of the St. Clair River. On March 3, 1823, Congress approved $3,500 for the construction of a lighthouse near Fort Gratiot, with an additional $5,000 added to this amount in April 1824. The contract for the lighthouse's construction was awarded to Captain Winslow Lewis of Massachusetts, who subcontracted the work to Daniel Warren of Rochester, New York.

The first Fort Gratiot Lighthouse was completed in August 1825 at a cost of $5,762.83. The original tower was located near the base of the present-day second span of the Blue Water Bridge. It was 32 feet high, 18 feet in diameter at the base, and tapered to 9 feet across at the top. However, the tower was poorly designed and constructed, and during a severe storm in September 1828, it collapsed into the river.

In 1829, Congress appropriated $8,000 for a new lighthouse, and a contract for a tower and dwelling was awarded to Lucius Lyon, who later became one of Michigan's first senators. The new lighthouse was built north of the original tower to be more visible to ships approaching the mouth of the St Clair River. The tower was constructed of brick and stood 65 feet tall.

Over the years, the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse underwent several upgrades and expansions. In the 1850s, a Fresnel lens was added, and the tower was raised to 82 feet in 1862 to accommodate the new lens's superior range. In 1874, a brick duplex keeper's house was built, and in 1900, a fog signal building was added. The lighthouse was electrified in 1927, and in 1932, a Coast Guard facility was constructed on land south of the lighthouse complex. The two facilities merged in 1939.

The Fort Gratiot Lighthouse is currently owned by St. Clair County and is open to the public for tours and tower climbs during certain seasons. It remains an active Coast Guard facility and is listed on the National Historic Register.

Angola's lighthouses

Angola is a large country in southwestern Africa with a coastline of 995 miles facing the South Atlantic Ocean. A former Portuguese colony, Angola fell into civil war immediately after gaining independence in 1975, and the country is still recovering from the bitter conflict that ended in 2002.

• Baía Farta Lighthouse: Located in Baía Farta, a fishing town west of Benguela, this lighthouse features a 10-metre post light centred on a square equipment shelter with red and white horizontal bands.
• Cabo de Santa Marta Lighthouse: Situated on a headland near Lucira, this lighthouse has a 14-metre hexagonal cylindrical masonry tower attached to a keeper's cottage.
• Ponta do Noronha Lighthouse: Found on a spectacular cliff at the entrance to Baía de Namibe, it features a 10-metre round hourglass-shaped tower with green and white horizontal bands.
• Namibe Quay Lighthouse: This lighthouse, once located at the north end of the commercial harbour in Namibe, was removed in 2021. It featured a 10-metre round hourglass-shaped tower with green and white bands.
• Fortaleza de São Fernando Lighthouse: Located on the waterfront in Moçâmedes, this lighthouse has a 4-metre equipment building with a light mast on the roof of the historic fort.
• Ponta das Salinas Lighthouse: Replacing an older pyramidal skeletal tower, this lighthouse in Baía Farta Municipality features a 38-metre square skeletal tower with a lantern and gallery on a concrete base.
• Ilha do Cabo Lighthouse: Situated at the northern end of Ilha do Cabo, marking the entrance to Luanda's harbour, this lighthouse features an 11-metre fiberglass tower painted with red and white horizontal bands.

Lucius Lyon's role

Lucius Lyon was a statesman from Michigan who played a significant role in the history of Fort Gratiot Lighthouse. Born in Shelburne, Vermont, in 1800, Lyon later moved to Michigan, where he worked as a teacher and a surveyor. He became deeply knowledgeable about the Michigan Territory, including its land, lakes, and natural resources.

In 1829, Lucius Lyon was commissioned to rebuild the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse, which is located at the entrance of the St. Clair River from Lake Huron. The original lighthouse, built in 1825, collapsed during a storm in 1828 due to poor design and construction. Lyon's new lighthouse was built north of the military fort, making it easier for ships to spot when entering the rapids. This lighthouse still stands today and is Michigan's oldest, having been extended to a height of 82 feet in the 1860s.

Lyon also played a crucial role in Michigan's journey to statehood in the 1830s. As a delegate to the U.S. Congress for the Michigan Territory, he presented a formal petition to Congress requesting Michigan's admission into the Union. However, there were disputes with Ohio over the Toledo Strip, leading to the Toledo War. Lyon, with his extensive knowledge of Michigan's geography, persuaded Michigan residents to accept the Upper Peninsula instead of the Toledo Strip. This compromise led to Ohio withdrawing its objections, and Michigan became a state in 1837.

Lyon went on to serve in various political roles, including as a U.S. Senator from Michigan and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was also a founding father of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and served on the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan.

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse tours

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse is located at 2802 Omar Street, Port Huron, Michigan, and is the oldest operating lighthouse in the Great Lakes. It was established in 1825 and rebuilt in 1829 and 1861, after the original tower collapsed into the river during a storm. It is also the first lighthouse on Lake Huron and the oldest surviving lighthouse in Michigan. The 86-foot-tall light stands above the lake level in a conical stone tower, overlaid with red brick and painted white. The keeper's cottage and fog whistle house are painted red.

The lighthouse is open for tours and tower climbs during business hours, weather permitting. Tours typically leave on the hour and half-hour marks, with tickets sold on a first-come, first-served basis. The last tour leaves one hour before closing time. The tower climb is only available as part of the guided tour, and visitors are required to wear closed-toe shoes. The lighthouse is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm between May 27 and September 15, with the last entry for tours at 4 pm. From September 16 to December 22, it is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm, again with the last entry for tours at 4 pm. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Group tours are available year-round by appointment.

From the top of the lighthouse, visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the Blue Water Bridge, the mouth of the St. Clair River, Point Edward in Ontario, Canada, and Lake Huron to the north. The lighthouse beach and park nearby also offer a great photo opportunity and a lazy weekend hangout spot.

The cost of a guided site tour, including the tower climb, is $12 for adults, $10.80 for students and seniors (60+), and $30 for a family (2 adults and 4 children).

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse is about 995 miles away from Angola, a southwestern African nation located south of the Congo and north of Namibia. Angola has a coastline of about 995 miles along the South Atlantic Ocean.

Angola's coastline

Angola is located on the western coast of Southern Africa, with a coastline of approximately 1,000 miles along the South Atlantic Ocean. The coastal region of Angola can be divided into three sections: the coastal lowlands, the interior hills and mountains, and the eastern high plateau.

The coastal lowlands stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, with a narrow strip of low-lying land that includes the country's capital, Luanda, and major ports such as Lobito and Namibe. The coastline varies between flat sandy beaches and rocky cliffs. The coastal lowland region rises from the sea in a series of low terraces, with a width of about 25 kilometres near Benguela, extending to over 150 kilometres in the Cuanza River Valley south of Luanda. The coastal lowlands are characterised by low plains and terraces, with occasional cliffs and bluffs of red sandstone. The Atlantic Ocean's northward-flowing Benguela Current significantly reduces precipitation along the coast, making the region relatively arid, particularly south of Benguela, where it forms the Namib Desert.

The interior hills and mountains region is a belt of hills and mountains that parallels the coast, ranging from 20 to 100 kilometres inland. This region forms a great escarpment, with steep slopes and deep valleys. The Cuanza River divides this zone into two parts: the northern part rises gradually from the coastal zone to an elevation of 500 metres, while the hills south of the Cuanza River rise sharply from the coastal lowlands, forming a high escarpment that extends southeast from Luanda into Namibia. The highest point in this region is Mount Moco, at 2,620 metres.

The eastern high plateau, also known as the Planalto, is the most extensive geographical region in Angola. It boasts elevations typically between 1,200 and 1,800 metres, with flat or rolling surfaces. The high plateau is substantially cooler and drier than the coastal areas, and its fertile soils have traditionally supported agricultural activities. The eastern high plateau is home to extensive savannahs and is dominated by Angola's highland terrain.

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