Dassen Island Lighthouse
Dassen Island Lighthouse is a 28 metre, circular, red and white striped cast-iron tower. Chance Brothers and Company, from Birmingham, England, were selected to supply most of the components for the lighthouse. It was decided to erect the lighthouse on the southern side because this is where the highest point is located, approximately 16 meters above sea level. Stone was quarried on the island itself and transported to the site by ox wagon. The lighthouse currently has a powerful light of 1,400,000 candelas which can be seen from Signal Hill in Cape Town 55 kilometres away. It has a range of 24 sea miles, on a clear night. The light pattern consists of 2 white flashes every 30 seconds.
A large 27,000 litre stone reservoir was built to store oil for the original light. When electricity was installed on the island, the reservoir was used as the base of the electric fog signal but it was destroyed during a gale in 1918. It has been replaced by a guyed aluminium mast.
The first recorded wreck in the area was the Dutch whaler, Haagman, which foundered on the rocks in 1683, and at least another 37 wrecks occurred in the period up until 1893.
33°25’55.6″S 18°05’20.2″E
There were two lighthouse keepers and then later three who were employed on the island which was considered to be a lonely outpost. Supplies were delivered once a month The lighthouse is now unmanned but easily serviced by helicopter.
