The Jument Lighthouse
The Jument Lighthouse lies off the south-west coast of the island. In 1878, Mr Charles-Eugène Potron - a man of "independant wealth"- escaped near-shipwreck in the area and decided to donate 400 000 francs in gold toward the construction of a new lighthouse, on condition that it be built within 7 years. Such an offshore construction was the first of its kind in the region and work began in 1904 on the reef known as "The old mare ".
The daring enterprise went ahead despite all the dangers and reinforcement work was finally completed in 1940. The base of the lighhouse is deeply anchored into the reef by means of four steel cables. It is classed by the keepers as one of the more fearsome lighhouses. The Jument rises 47 meters above the sea, and emits three red flashes every 15 seconds and is also equiped with a powerful foghorn. Its beam carries 19 miles out to sea. The lighthouse was made fully automatic in july 1991 and is now remote-controlled from the Créac'h.
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