Namibia is the country formerly called South West Africa. Its colonial history began in 1878, when Britain took control of the port of Walvis Bay. The rest of South West Africa became a German colony in 1884. South African troops occupied the German colony in 1915, early in World War I, and South Africa remained in control of the territory for the next 75 years. After a lengthy struggle, Namibia became independent in 1990, although South Africa did not cede its control of Walvis Bay until 1994. Since the end of the apartheid government in South Africa, relations between the two countries have become much warmer.
Aids to navigation in Namibia are maintained by Namport, the national port authority. There are three active traditional lighthouses in the country, plus one additional historic lighthouse.
ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume D of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 113.
- General Sources
Leuchttürme an der namibischen Küste - Photos by various photographers posted by Bernd Claußen.
- Online List of Lights - Namibia
- Photos by various photographers posted by Alex Trabas.
- Lighthouses in Namibia
- Photos available from Wikimedia.
- Afrikanische Leuchttürme auf historischen Postkarten
- Historic postcard views from the collection of Klaus Huelse.
Pelican Point Light, May 2007
Creative Commons photo
by Carlos Reis
