1. By: Christiana Spinella English 11

2. Me!

3. History The first Cape Hatteras lighthouse was built in 1803. It was built because the currents off the shore flow in opposite directions causing conditions to bring fog and dangerous storms. They also cause rough currents making the water seem deeper than it really is, causing ships to wreck. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was the first to be used as a warning signal for sailors.

4. Re-doing the Lighthouse The original lighthouse stood 90 feet tall and used whale oil lamps to light the tower, this however didnt work well because the lamps light wasnt bright enough, causing many ships still to crash into the rocks. In 1854 the height was increased from 90 feet to 150 feet, and a Fresnel lens was put in place to produce a more intense light. Rooms were also added for the keepers. Even though now the light was bright enough the lighthouse faced the constant erosion of sand at the base, for it was built on a sand dune. So finally in 1870 a new lighthouse was constructed. This one was over 200 feet tall and still stands as the worlds tallest brick lighthouse. Years later erosion was still a problem so it was recommended that it be moved. In 1999 the lighthouse was moved 2900 feet southwest, putting it 1600 feet away from the breaking waves. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is now a national historic landmark, and is still in use.

5. Works Cited Pictured taken by Haley Guiley, owned by me! "Cape Hatteras Lighthouse." NC Beaches. Jan. 2006. Web. 19 Feb. 2012..