Cape St Martin lighthouse

St Helena Bay was named “Bahia de Santa Helena” by explorer Vasco da Gama, after Saint Helena, a devout Christian and mother of Constantine the Great. He landed here on the 7th of November 1497, during his first successful circumnavigation of Africa. He stayed in the area for 8 days and took on fresh provisions by bartering with the local Khoisan inhabitants.

The lighthouse is a 10-metre high triangular skeletal tower that has not been painted.  The light is 2,000 candelas and was first lit on 12 December 1977 it flashes white or red once every 10 seconds and can be seen for 22 nautical miles

32°42’53.9″S 17°55’15.7″E