Why do lighthouses have different coloured stripes and patterns?

The stripes and patterns—called daymarks—help mariners identify which specific lighthouse they're looking at during daylight hours. Each lighthouse has a unique visual signature so sailors can figure out their position along the coast. It's not decorative; it's a navigation tool.

How do you identify a lighthouse at night?

You time the light pattern—called the light characteristic. Each lighthouse has a specific flash pattern with precise timing (like four flashes every twenty seconds). Count the flashes, time the full cycle with a stopwatch, then match it to navigation charts to identify which lighthouse you're seeing.

Are lighthouses still useful now that we have GPS?

Yes, especially as backup. Electronics can fail, batteries die, and GPS signals can be jammed or spoofed. For smaller vessels without full electronic systems, and in emergencies when technology fails, being able to identify your position using a lighthouse, your eyes, and a watch provides a crucial safety margin.

Walking the Edge

How to Tell One Lighthouse from Another When It Might Save Your Life

Every lighthouse looks deliberately different because mariners need to know exactly where they are. Stripes, colours and flash patterns form a coastal identification system that works by day and night, while fog signals add another distinctive signature.

14 October 20269 min read