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Photographer’s Note

This is Pen Lan lighthouse in Billiers, in the east of Morbihan district. This lighthouse stands on a point (Pen Lan point) that closes west part of river Vilaine estuary. It helps sailors to find the right way to come into river Vilaine estuary. It has coloured windows, one green, one white and one red, that give different colours to the light depending on where the sailor comes from. When the sailor sees a white light, he's on the channel. When he sees green light, he can go depending on its size. When he sees red light, it means he goes to rocks and he should change direction ! The lighthouse was built in 1881, then raised in 1975 because buildings bothered its visibility from some places. Today it is 18 meters height and is 26 meters other the sea. Its range is 13 miles in white range, 11 miles in red and green range. Since 90s, it is automated and controled from Goulphar lighthouse on Belle-Ile island, like every lighthouse in Morbihan. Don't you find its red & white clothes fit very well with Christmas times ? It could be called Santa Claus lighthouse !

Sorry if I misused some words to describe this lighthouse features. Not easy to find the right translation for technical words ;)

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Additional Photos by Olivier THIERRY (chawax) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 696 W: 2 N: 1073] (5729)
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