Hope Town Lighthouse
Hope Town Lighthouse is an amazing 37 meter tall structure located in the village of the same name. The red and white lighthouse is visited by thousands of tourists every year, making the humble village of Hope Town one of the most visited places in the Bahamas. “Hope Town” is the English translation of its name.
History
Hope Town Lighthouse stands on a large promontory and marks Elbo Reef, which is very dangerous for mariners. The locals have a very special feeling for it, as the lighthouse has helped stranded sailors return home many times in the past.
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However, this was not always the case. In the middle of the 19th century, the residents of Hope Town tried in every possible way to prevent the construction, even sinking the barges that brought the necessary building materials. They thought that the lighthouse would interfere with their trade with other settlements of the archipelago, and eventually lead them to poverty and hunger. Time put everything in its place. It is because of him that the village became the most popular place in the Bahamas, and the people began to live better than ever..
Hope Town Lighthouse runs on kerosene, not electricity like all the others. Perhaps this explains why there is so much interest from tourists. All attempts to automate the lighthouse have been thwarted by the villagers themselves.
Tourists
After enjoying the view of the lighthouse itself, it’s time to go up to its observation deck. It is reached by a narrow staircase with exactly one hundred and one steps. Overcome it can be quite a challenge, especially for tourists pampered by the warm tropical sun and gentle waves of the Caribbean Sea. But the views from the top of the lighthouse are a hundredfold reward. You can stare at the distant skyline, interrupted occasionally by the green caps of islands surrounded by lighter patches of lagoons. With a good imagination, you can imagine yourself in the role of a mother or bride, or, say, the father of a fisherman who went to sea, waiting for the return of his son home and looking for a cherished white sail in the azure waters of the sea.
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No less picturesque and spectacular looks from the thirty-seven-meter height of the lighthouse and Abacos Island itself with the village of Hope Town at the foot, surrounded by pineapple plantations and palm thickets. The effort is not wasted, as this beauty can hardly be seen anywhere else!
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