Lighthouses of Mauritius

Mauritius is an island in the Indian Ocean roughly 1000 km (600 mi) east of Madagascar. Discovered by the Portuguese in 1505, the island was first settled by the Dutch in 1638 and still bears its Dutch name. The Dutch colony was abandoned in 1710. French settlers replaced the Dutch in 1715 and held the island until British forces seized it in 1810. After a century and a half of British rule, the Republic of Mauritius became independent in 1968. Despite the lengthy British connection, a French-based Creole language is commonly spoken, and most place names are French. Lighthouses are maintained by the Shipping Division of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Land Transport, and Shipping. 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 112. General Sources Phares d'Afrique A section of Le phare à travers le monde, the outstanding web site of Alain Guyomard and Robert Carceller; there are links to several pages on Mauritian lighthouses. Afrikanische Leuchttürme auf historischen Postkarten Historic postcard views posted by Klaus Huelse.

Pointe aux Caves Light, March 2006 anonymous Creative Commons photo

Lighthouses
** Pointe aux Caves (Albion)

1910. Active; focal plane 46 m (151 ft); two white flashes every 10 s; there is also a continuous red passing light at a focal plane of 30 m (98 ft). 30 m (98 ft) masonry tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white with two red horizontal bands. A photo appears above, Guyomard and Carceller have several photos, Ramjheetun Elodie has another good photo, there are photos taken from the gallery, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. A handsome, very British lighthouse in the tropical Indian Ocean. Located on a headland about 10 km (6 mi) southwest of Port Louis, the national capital. Site open, tower also open but we have no information on the schedule. ARLHS MAT-004; Admiralty D7096; NGA 32852.

* Pointe aux Sables

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white light 1 s, off 1 s, green light 1 s, off 1 s. 12 m (39 ft) black stone Martello tower with two vertical white stripes. No lantern; the light is mounted on the top front of the tower. Guyomard and Carceller have a photo, Robert Gebavi has a fine photo, and Google has a satellite view. Martello towers are round fortifications built during the early nineteenth century to repel attacks from the sea. This is one of five Martello towers the British built on Mauritius after they took the island from the French in 1810; two of the five were converted later into aids to navigation. Located on the west side of the entrance to the old harbor of Port Louis. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS MAT-006; Admiralty D7097; NGA 32872.

* Port Louis Sector (Range Rear)

Date unknown (2005?). Active; focal plane 64 m (210 ft); white, red or green light, depending on direction. Light mounted on the roof of the Bank of Mauritius building in downtown Port Louis. No photo of the light is available, but a 2005 photo shows the bank building under construction. The front light of the range is mounted on a post on Quay A on the waterfront. Designed by Vega Industries, the sector light replaced the former rear range light, which was on a skeletal tower on the hill behind the city. The view of the rear light had become obstructed by the bank building and other downtown buildings. Site open. Site manager: Bank of Mauritius. ARLHS MAT-009; Admiralty D7099.1; NGA 32864.

* Roche Bois (Dockers Flat)

Date unknown. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white light 1 s, off 1 s, red light 1 s, off 1 s. 20 m (66 ft) drum-shaped water tank atop a slender cylindrical tower; there appears to be a gallery on top of the tank. Tank painted with red and white vertical stripes, supporting tower with red and white horizontal bands. Guyomard and Carceller have a photo by Jean-Michel Penin, and Google has a satellite view. Located on Baie du Tombeau Road on the north side of Port Louis. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS MAT-008; Admiralty D7098; NGA 32876.

** Pointe aux Canonniers

1855. Inactive. 14 m (46 ft) black stone Martello tower with lantern. This lighthouse now stands on the grounds of a hotel, and at last report it was in use as a daycare center for the children of guests. David Gardener has a 2008 photo, Guyomard and Carceller have a good photo by Jean-Michel Penin, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. We need information on the history of this light. Located on a prominent cape about 8 km (5 mi) southwest of the northern tip of Mauritius. Site open, tower open to guests and perhaps others. Owner/site manager: Hôtel le Canonnier. ARLHS MAT-003.

* Île Plate (Flat Island) 1855. Active; focal plane 111 m (364 ft); four white flashes every 30 s. 16 m (52 ft) cylindrical masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 1-story keeper's house. Building painted white; lantern roof and gallery rail painted red. Centre Sport Nautique has posted a photo of the island in which the lighthouse can be seen. The Port Authority historic photo at right shows the keeper's house was already in ruins by 1956. Île Plate (Flat Island) is more substantial than its name might indicate: it is a high, rather flat-topped rocky island about 15 km (9 mi) off the northern tip of Mauritius. Tours to the island are available, and some of them include a visit to the light station. Located on the highest point of the island; accessible by a foot trail. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS MAT-001; Admiralty D7102; NGA 32848. Île aux Fouquets (Île du Phare) 1865. Inactive. 26 m (85 ft) masonry tower with lantern and gallery, attached to a 2-story and 1-story keeper's complex. An August 2007 photo and another photo are available, Guyomard and Carceller have an aerial photo by Jean-Michel Penin, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a good satellite view. This lighthouse guided ships to the harbor of Mahébourg, on the southeast coast of Mauritius. Mahébourg was the original French settlement and remained an important port until the early 20th century, when the British moved all port operations to Port Louis on the opposite side of the island. Endangered: the light station has been abandoned for many years and has fallen into ruin. Located on a small island about 5 km (3 mi) southeast of Point du Diable and 15 km (10 mi) east of Mahébourg. Accessible only by boat; there is a distant view from the mainland. Site and tower closed. ARLHS MAT-002.

Île Plate Light, December 1956 Mauritius Ports Authority photo

 

Information available on lost lighthouses:

Notable faux lighthouses:

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Posted November 15, 2005. Checked and revised May 11, 2009. Lighthouses: 7. Site copyright 2009 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.