Name and Location

The Albion Lighthouse, also known as Pointe aux Caves Lighthouse, is located at Unnamed Road, Albion, Rivière Noire District, Mauritius. The official coordinates are 20°11′28.5″ S, 57°24′41.5″ E (decimal: -20.1912559, 57.4115219). The lighthouse is managed by the Mauritius Ports Authority and is currently used as an active coastal navigational aid.

Construction and History

The Albion Lighthouse was built in the early 20th century (c. 1910-1914) during the British colonial era to support growing inter-island and international shipping. The exact year of construction is not publicly recorded, but it is believed to have been built around this time.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse is a utilitarian cast-iron skeletal tower, typical of British colonial-era lighthouse engineering. The tower shape and markings are slender, tapered cylindrical with a gallery and lantern, painted white with two broad horizontal red bands. The construction materials used are prefabricated cast-iron sections bolted to a masonry base.

Light and Navigation

The lighthouse stands at a height of 30 meters (98 ft) above ground level, with a focal plane height of approximately 32 meters (105 ft) above mean sea level. The light range is 16 nautical miles (approx. 30 km). The light characteristic is four white flashes every 20 seconds (Fl (4) W 20 s), although this information has been speculated and should be verified against primary sources or official notices to mariners.

Accessibility and Visiting

The grounds are open 24 hours, but the tower interior is closed to casual visitors. The lighthouse can be accessed by car from Black River (Rivière Noire) via B103 toward Albion village, or by foot along a short paved path from the roadside parking area. There are no restrooms or refreshments available on site.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse stands atop Pointe aux Caves, overlooking the Indian Ocean at the mouth of the Couleuvre River estuary. Panoramic views can be seen toward the Dinarobin Peninsula, Tamarin Bay to the north, and Le Morne Brabant in the distance to the south. The shoreline is rocky, with small beach coves lying eastward.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local folklore speaks of "Le Fantôme de la Côte" (coastal phantom), said to guard fishermen returning at night. No major shipwrecks have been directly attributed to mis-navigating off this point, although the nearby reef has claimed vessels since the 19th century.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is fully automated and equipped with solar-charged batteries and an LED beacon (conversion year undisclosed). There are no publicly documented radar or AIS installations on site.

Further Information

• For further information, visit the Mauritius Ports Authority's official website, Lighthouse Division section.
• Additional resources include "Lighthouses of the Indian Ocean" by Darrell Sulllivan (2020) and Wikipedia's list of lighthouses in Mauritius.