View source for Cap d'Antifer Lighthouse

{{Short description|Lighthouse in Seine-Maritime, France}}
{{Infobox lighthouse
| name            = Cap d Antifer Lighthouse
| image           = File:Le Phare d'Antifer.jpg
| image_width     =
| caption         =
| location        = [[La Poterie-Cap-d'Antifer]], France
| coordinates     = {{coord|49.6835|0.1654|display=inline,title}}
| yearbuilt       =
| yearlit         = 1955
| automated       =
| yeardeactivated =
| foundation      =
| construction    =
| shape           =
| marking         =
| height          = {{convert|38|m}}
| focalheight     = {{convert|128|m}}
| lens            =
| currentlens     =
| lightsource     =
| range           = {{convert|29|nmi}}
| characteristic  = Fl W 20s
| racon           =
| country         =
| countrynumber   =
| countrylink     =
| managingagent   =
| heritage        =
}}
The '''Cap d'Antifer Lighthouse''' ({{langx|fr|Phare d'Antifer}}) is an active aid to navigation on the headland of the same name which forms part of the French [[Côte d'Albâtre]] (Alabaster coast) of the English Channel, in [[Seine-Maritime]], [[Normandy]]. Located on the edge of the cliffs within the commune of [[La Poterie-Cap-d'Antifer]], it was built to guide shipping into the [[Port of Le Havre]].
The current lighthouse was commissioned in 1955 and is the second to be built at the site after the original 19th century lighthouse was destroyed during World War II.
==History==
The need for a lighthouse on the Cap d’Antifer, was identified in 1889, primarily to aid navigation to the entrance Le Havre. It was suggested that it should have a powerful light source, similar to that used for other landfall lighthouses, as the existing light at [[Fécamp]] was inadequate in this respect.<ref name=dirm/>
In 1890, the Commission des Phares made the decision to construct the lighthouse, with a tower height of 26m, and a focal plane of 120m, and it was completed in 1894.<ref name=dirm/>
===Optic===
[[File:HRDB-010 Lens Cap d&#039;Antifer BBT 1889.jpg|thumb|The [[Hyperradiant Fresnel lens|hyper-radial lens]] on display at the [[Exposition Universelle (1889)]]]]
The lantern room was designed to accommodate a [[Hyperradiant Fresnel lens|hyper-radial optic]], the largest type of [[Fresnel lens]] available. Made up of six bullseye panels, and manufactured by F. Barbier, the optic was displayed at the [[Exposition Universelle (1889)|Exposition Universelle of 1889]] a [[world's fair]] held in [[Paris]] before being installed in the tower, the only hyper-radial lens to be used in a French lighthouse. To enable the optic to turn freely it was mounted upon a circular bath of mercury, known as a mercury float, providing an almost frictionless bearing. The rotation produced a white flash every 20 seconds, with a range of 31 miles. Originally lit with mineral oil and wick burners, the light source was converted to kerosene in 1905. In 1926, the lighthouse was electrified using diesel generators.<ref name=meri/>
It continued in operation through to the Second World War, until German soldiers demolished the entire lighthouse and the optic as they withdrew at the end of [[Occupation of France]] in late summer 1944.<ref name=meri/>
==1955 lighthouse==
After the war a temporary pole light was erected, with construction of the current lighthouse beginning in 1949. Completed in 1955, it has a 38 m high octagonal concrete tower with fluted sides, with a focal height of 128m. Rather than building it in the same spot as the old light, the site was moved back 30m away from the eroding cliff edge. A grassy berm was also placed around the site, to protect the keeper's houses from the wind in the clifftop location. In 2002, the lighthouse was declared a [[monument historique]].<ref name=meri/> It is registered under the international Admiralty number A1250 and it has the [[National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency|NGA]] identifier of 114–8740.<ref name=rowlett/><ref name=ngall/>
The optic used is smaller than the hyper-radial of the previous lighthouse, being of the second-order with a focal length of 700mm, but from the same company of [[Barbier, Benard, et Turenne]]. Mounted within a 2m diameter green lantern room made by Sautter-Harle, and lit by a 650 watt lamp, the light has a nominal range of 29 nautical miles.<ref name=dirm/><ref name=ngall /><ref name=LHD/>
<gallery>
File:Etretat 07 August 2005 019.jpg| View of cliffs and lighthouse
File:Cap d'Antifer lighthouse.jpg|Detail of tower
File:Antifer Lighthouse (207466013).jpeg|Night view
</gallery>
== See also ==
* [[List of lighthouses in France]]
== References ==
{{Reflist|refs
<ref name=rowlett>{{cite rowlett|fran2|accessdate=20 July 2020}}</ref>
<ref name=meri>{{cite web|url= https://www.pop.culture.gouv.fr/notice/merimee/IA76002724 |language=French | title=Phare d'Antifer|publisher= [[Base Mérimée]] |accessdate=20 July 2020}}</ref>
<ref name=dirm>{{cite web|url=http://www.dirm.memn.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/phare-d-antifer-a266.html|language=French | title=Phare d'Antifer|date=24 April 2013 |publisher=dirm-memn |accessdate=20 July 2020}}</ref>
<ref name=ngall>{{cite ngall|114|2016|126}}</ref>
<ref name=LHD>{{cite web|title=Cap d'Antifer |url=http://www.lighthousedigest.net/Digest/database/uniquelighthouse.cfm?value=7829|work=Lighthouse Explorer|publisher=Lighthouse Digest|accessdate=20 July 2020}}</ref>
}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Lighthouses in France]]
[[Category:Lighthouses completed in 1894]]
[[Category:Lighthouses completed in 1955]]
[[Category:Lighthouses of the English Channel]]
[[Category:Monuments historiques of Seine-Maritime]]