The current tower is actually the fourth lighthouse built on this deadly reef 14 miles off Plymouth. The first was destroyed by a storm. The second burned down. The third was dismantled when the rock beneath it eroded. Each rebuild pushed engineering further, and the current granite tower - standing since 1882 - became the template for every rock lighthouse built since.

Why visit: The stump of the third tower (Smeaton's Tower) was relocated to Plymouth Hoe and is open to visitors - a rare chance to climb inside a piece of lighthouse history.

Built by the Romans in the 1st century AD, the Tower of Hercules in A Coruña is the oldest working lighthouse in the world. It has guided ships for nearly 2,000 years. While the exterior was renovated in the 18th century, the Roman core remains intact beneath the neoclassical shell.

Why visit: A UNESCO World Heritage Site with a surrounding sculpture park. Climbing the 234 steps rewards you with panoramic Atlantic views.

Perched on Australia's most easterly point, this elegant white tower has watched over the Pacific since 1901. The walk to the lighthouse follows a coastal trail through rainforest and offers some of the best whale-watching opportunities on the continent during migration season.

Why visit: Combine the lighthouse visit with whale watching (June-November) and be the first person in Australia to see the sunrise.

Standing at the entrance to Lindau's harbour on Lake Constance, this 33-meter tower is unique among lighthouses for its Alpine backdrop. Built in 1856, it's the southernmost lighthouse in Germany and one of the few freshwater lighthouses you'll find anywhere.

Why visit: The harbour entrance, flanked by the lighthouse on one side and a massive Bavarian lion sculpture on the other, is one of the most photographed scenes in southern Germany.

Located on the island of Ouessant (Ushant) off the coast of Brittany, Créac'h is one of the most powerful lighthouses in the world. Its beam is visible for over 30 nautical miles. The island sits at the entrance to the English Channel, one of the busiest and most dangerous shipping lanes on Earth.

Why visit: The lighthouse houses the Musée des Phares et Balises - a superb museum dedicated to lighthouse history, with an incredible collection of Fresnel lenses.

Known as "Ireland's Teardrop" because it was the last piece of land emigrants saw when leaving for America, Fastnet Rock lighthouse stands on a tiny island 13 km off the southwest coast. The current granite tower replaced an iron lighthouse that proved unable to withstand Atlantic storms.

Why visit: Boat tours from Baltimore and Schull bring you close, and helicopter tours offer breathtaking aerial views of this isolated sentinel.

The iconic red-and-white lighthouse at Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia, is one of the most photographed structures in Canada. Set dramatically on massive granite boulders sculpted by glaciers, it perfectly captures the rugged beauty of the Atlantic coast.

Why visit: The surrounding fishing village is as picturesque as the lighthouse itself. Visit early morning to avoid crowds and catch the best light on the granite.

Reaching this lighthouse at the southern tip of the North Island requires driving one of New Zealand's most spectacular coastal roads. The red-and-white striped tower sits at the base of dramatic eroded pinnacles called the Putangirua Pinnacles, and is home to a large fur seal colony.

Why visit: The 250-step climb to the top offers views across Cook Strait to the South Island. The fur seals lounging on the rocks below are an unexpected bonus.

Often called "the lighthouse at the end of the world" (though it technically isn't), this red-and-white striped tower sits on a tiny island in the Beagle Channel near Ushuaia. Surrounded by glacial waters with snow-capped mountains as a backdrop, it's one of the most dramatically located lighthouses anywhere.

Why visit: Boat tours from Ushuaia pass right by the lighthouse, often accompanied by sea lions, cormorants, and occasionally penguins.

One of the oldest lighthouses in the world, the Kõpu lighthouse on Hiiumaa island has been guiding ships since 1531. Its massive, fortress-like structure looks nothing like a typical lighthouse - it's essentially a huge stone tower with buttresses, built to be visible from the open Baltic Sea.

Why visit: The medieval architecture is unlike any other lighthouse you'll see. Climb the ancient stone stairs for sweeping views across the island and the Baltic.