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Hams Bluff Light

Northwest St Croix 00840, St Croix 00840, USVI

Hams Bluff Light (undefined)
source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/Hams-bluff-light2.jpg

Name and Location

The Hams Bluff Light is located in the Northwest, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Construction and History

The Hams Bluff Light was constructed during the 1915 era, serving as a vital aid to navigation for mariners traversing the Caribbean Sea. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) with reference number 100004382, solidifying its importance in the region's cultural heritage.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse stands at an impressive 11 meters (36 feet) tall and has a focal height of 16 meters (52 feet) above sea level. Although information on its architecture and materials is not available, we can assume it was built with durable materials to withstand harsh marine conditions.

Light and Navigation

The Hams Bluff Light had a distinctive white color and periodic flashing pattern, lasting 30 seconds, making it a prominent landmark for ships and boats. Its light characteristic was Fl(3)W.15s, a flashing white light every 15 seconds. Although the lighthouse is no longer operational, its significance in maritime navigation remains important.

Accessibility and Visiting

Unfortunately, due to its decommissioning and current status as an abandoned structure, visitors are not permitted to enter or explore the lighthouse. However, enthusiasts can appreciate its history and significance from afar.

Notable Views and Landscape

From its vantage point, the lighthouse overlooks the surrounding landscape of Northwest St. Croix, offering breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea and nearby islands.

Anecdotes and Folklore

The Hams Bluff Light has been shrouded in local folklore, with tales of mysterious sea creatures and unexplained maritime events swirling around its history. While these stories are not substantiated by empirical evidence, they add to the lighthouse's mystique.

Technical and Operational Details

Although decommissioned in 2010, the lighthouse was previously operated manually by the United States Navy. Its light characteristic was Fl(3)W.15s, a flashing white light every 15 seconds. The Hams Bluff Light was automated, but its functionality has been discontinued.

Further Information

For further reading, please visit the Wikipedia article on Hams Bluff Light (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hams_Bluff_Light).

Details

NameHams Bluff Light
City
CountryU.s. Virgin Islands
Coordinates17.7691893, -64.8708058
Year of construction1915
Stories{"type":"Local folklore"}
Focal height16
Tower height11
Heritage statustrue
Access descriptionNot publicly accessible due to decommissioning
Landscape typeCoastline
View descriptionBreathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea and nearby islands
Nearby attractionsFrederiksted, Beaches, coves, and scenic lookout points along the island's coastline
Light characteristicFl(3)W.15s
Automatedfalse