Since 1875, there have been 34 lighthouses that were built in the Taiwan region under Ching dynasty, Japanese administration, and Republic of China administration. The rich content in the exhibition involves changes in history, human activities, geological environments, and business activities. This exhibition displays pictures and legends of the 34 lighthouses, along with the model of lighthouses distribution map. Starting from the origin of lighthouses, continuing with the stories of lighthouses in Taiwan to the stories of Mazu and the lighthouse keepers, people will know more about Taiwan lighthouses. Through the eyes of the photographer to view the beauty of the world's lighthouses, all of which is a great chance to expand the knowledge of oceanic culture. When the dark comes, the lighthouse start flashing its lights as sparkles on the sea, and it merges with lights on land becoming a dazzling picture. Taiwan is surrounded with ocean, and there are about 80 satellite islands in the nearby sea area. Due to the complex landforms in the ocean and the unstable weather, there have been many lighthouses were built since Ching dynasty. Do you know the stories behind those lighthouses that stand on top of the mountains or cliffs by the ocean? Have you counted how many lighthouses you have visited? Do you want to know about lighthouses? The exhibition, "Giants Hold Up the Light – Special Exhibition of Lighthouses in Taiwan", will convey the stories of 34 lighthouses to unveil their mysteries. Navigation on ships is a major transportation due to oceans cover about 70% of the Earth. Ships need not only navigating instruments to guide their directions, they also need lighthouses to assist routes in the dark. About 3,000 years ago, lighthouses were already used for navigation. Early lighthouses were found in unsheltered metal baskets, placed on a tower, using fired woods as the light source. Later on, animal fats, coal, and gas became the light source, until the recent acetylene lamps or electric lamps. The earliest lighthouse in the world was the stone lighthouse - "The Pharos Lighthouse" built at Alexandria, Egypt in 305 B.C., but now only ruins remain at the site. Later on in the centuries, many unique, beautiful, and far to reach lighthouses were built. With the improvement of technology, such as GPS services, the functions of lighthouses are slowly vanishing. There are about 1,400 lighthouses are currently in use, and many countries have transformed lighthouses to a part of tourist attraction. Earlier in Taiwan, there was only simple oil lamps used as a direction guide along the long coast line. In early Ching Tongzhi administration, the Inspector General of Imperial Maritime Custom Service, Robert Hart, approved to build lighthouses and other facilities to improve marine navigation and to expand trading businesses. In 1868, the customs office formed Department of Maritime Affairs to be responsible for lighthouse constructions and maintenances, and is the only country that manages lighthouses by customs. The early lighthouses established in Taiwan are in order of Yuweng Tao, Eluanbi, Kaohsiung, Anping, and Danshui, and all were built during Ching dynasty, but stopped after the Sino-Japanese War. During Japanese administration, many lighthouses were established, but were damaged during World War II. In 1946, the customs started repairing lighthouses, and the next year, all of the lighthouses were fixed and returned to light services. Currently there are 34 lighthouses in Taiwan region, and many radio posts were set up that augmented the functions of lighthouses. Navigation aid facility is also called "navigation facility" or "navigation mark", and it can be divided to "common navigation mark" and “electronic navigation mark". "Common navigation mark", including lighthouse, light post, mark post, light boat, light buoy, and buoy. "Electronic navigation mark" includes "land navigation aid" and "navigation satellite system". "Land navigation aids" are radio post, radar post, radar reflector, Loran-C receiver, and Decca navigation system. The "navigation satellite system" includes navy navigation satellite system and global positioning system. There are two standard heights for lighthouses: height of lighthouse and elevation of light. Height of lighthouse also called "tower height", determined from the base of tower to the wind vane at the top of tower. Elevation of light also called "lamp height", determined from high water to the center of the lamp. Earlier lamps were unsheltered and used metal baskets to hold burning woods or charcoals. Later on the light fuel became using animal fat, plant oil, kerosene, and gasoline, and cover was put on when kerosene was used. The lamp has improved to be constructed with illuminator, lens, flasher, and revolving lens. The illuminator has evolved from wick oil lamp, luminescent lamp, and luminescent acetylene lamp to the current acetylene lamp or electric lamp, where the electric lamp has the wattage of 750 to 1,500 Candelas. There were also changes in lens and revolving lens. Lens include reflector, refractor, inverse refractor, and drum lens. The revolving lens is able to rotate lens automatically, and it can project lights according to the light characteristics. Earlier lamp used wick oil lamp with single wick for small lamps and multiple wicks for big lamps. The fuel originally used plant oil, paraffin wax, and the last was kerosene. Luminescent lamp was improved from oil lamp that after ignition, the air and kerosene were mixed with pressure to illuminate the lamp, and it is covered with mantle. It is also called "acetylene lamp", and usually used on unguarded light post or light buoy. The acetylene is stored in a container with acetone absorbent and light up with the adjustment of valve and timer. Total of 10 orders of magnitudes according to its diameter: top order (2660 mm), 1st order (1840 mm), 2nd order (1400 mm), 3rd order (1000 mm), medium 3rd order (800 mm), small 3rd order (750 mm), large 4th order (600 mm), 4th order (500 mm), 5th order (375 mm), 6th order (300 mm), and diameters less than 300 mm are not classified. The lamp uses alternating current from generator or direct current from battery to illuminate. Alternating current is used on large light bulb and is more powerful. Direct current is usually used on lacking alternating current or unguarded lighthouses. An apparatus to produce regular light flashes according to the lamp characteristics, and there are acetylene flasher and electric light flasher. The electric light flasher is powered on alternating current or direct current. Usually used on medium and small size lamps. Glass is cut into an arc shape or formed with mold, and combine with prism to form convex lens. It increases the light intensity, and there are types of convex lens such as refractor, inverse refractor, and drum lens. 1. 2. 3. First Page   Copyright © YM Museum of Marine Exploration Kaohsiung All rights reserved   No. 50-60 , Beishan Lane, Nanshan Village, Cijin District, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan 805, R.O.C Tel: +886-7-5716688 / Fax: +886-7-5710999 / Designed & Program by: FADNOR Interactive Media Inc.