WEST POINT, in southeast New York State, is the site of the U.S. Military Academy, founded 1802. The academy, located in Orange County, sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, 50 miles (80 km) north of New York City. Academy\’s mission is to educate, train and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the United States Army.

credit: West Point – The U.S. Military Academy

Lighthouses came into existence because ships could not see the rocks and other dangers in the water. A lighthouse is a building or other type of construction designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire and used as an aid to navigation. The most widely used materials are masonry, brick, concrete and steel. The first known lighthouse, the Pharos of Alexandria, Egypt, was completed about 280 B.C. It stood more than 350 feet tall until an earthquake destroyed it in the 1300s.

Hornby Lighthouse

credit: nigelhowe

Flamborough Lighthouse

credit: johncooke

Fire Island lighthouse

credit: jeffpearce

Lighthouse at Barrenjoey

credit: dicktay2000

Lighthouse at Andenes

credit: Kim Joar

Lighthouse, Whitby, UK

credit: phault

Borden’s Wharf Lighthouse

credit: archer10 (Dennis)

Cape Sharp Lighthouse

credit: archer10 (Dennis)

Lower Lighthouse, Fleetwood

credit: Bob the courier

Warnemunde Lighthouse, Germany

credit: Suomi Star

Lighthouse Campen

credit: gerriet

Light house  IJmuiden, Holland

credit: Robby van Moor

Lighthouse at Berlingua Island, Estremadura, Portugal

credit: dynamosquito

Söderskär lighthouse

credit: MiikaS

California Lighthouse in Aruba

credit: Andre Aguiar

Cape Blanco Lighthouse

credit: puliarf

Lighthouse from the Hurtigrute    traditional scandinavian style

credit: stevecadman