4333 x 2856 px | 36,7 x 24,2 cm | 14,4 x 9,5 inches | 300dpi
Date de la prise de vue:
24 août 2007
Lieu:
Alligator Reef, 4 miles off Islamorada, Florida Keys,Atlantic Ocean
Informations supplémentaires:
Alligator Reef Light marks the shallow reef where the USS Alligator was wrecked in 1822. The schooner equipped with 12 guns and measuring 86ft in length was dispatched to suppress piracy. Near Cuba, a battle took place and the USS Alligator succeeded in liberating some vessels held for ransom by pirates and proceeded to escort them North to the US. Inspite of checking depth at regular intervals, the ship ran aground on Matecumbe Reef. After all efforts at refloating her were exhausted and property transferred to the Anna Maria, traveling with the Alligator, the schooner was set afire to prevent pirates from taking possession. The lighthouse stands 150’ tall and was built in 1873 as an iron screwpile skeletal tower of iron and wood. It was originally fitted with a revolving first order Fresnel Lens. Keepers at Alligator survived the Labor Day hurricane of 1935 which killed 400 people in the keys. The light was automated in 1963 ending both the days of tranquility gazing down into the crystal waters teeming with sea life and the times of peril manning a tower during a hurricane which constitute a keeper’s life. The beacon today is operated by the US Coast Guard with lighting characteristics of four-group flashing white every 60 seconds with two red sectors and uses solar power. Location: Three miles south of the southern end of Upper Matecumbe Key. 4 miles off Indian Key and Islamorada Coordinates: 24 51 06N 80 37 06W
