More National Geographic and Another Awesome Fresnel Lens!

Paul was busy with "boat duties" today so Barry, Coni and I did a bit of exploring.  We went to the Westport Maritime Museum, and amongst assorted Coast Guard artifacts there was a special building that housed another amazing Fresnel lens from the Destruction Island lighthouse, which has not been active since 2008 with the inception of GPS.

This complete lens and mechanism is housed in a building that was built specially for it.  Even though it has a bulb inside, it still refracts a lot of natural lighting. 

The specs are:  

1st Order Fresnel Lens, installed during 1891 on Destruction island Lighthouse, 40 nm North of Westport.

Manufactured in 1888 in Paris, France.  In service from 1892 until 1995 (103 years).

1176 prisms and 24 lenses (bullseyes) in 24 vertical segments, each giving a 10-second flash.

Weight:  6-8 tons, glass alone is 2 tons.

Lens height:  7'10", diameter is 6'3", total height is 18 ft.

Illumination:  First 50 years with oil lantern, since 1942 with 1,000 watt bulb.

Light visible for 25 miles (horizon).

Before electrification, lens turned by weight on chain, cranked up every two hours.

The handiwork in this is mind-boggling!

The entire fixture was rotating like it used to in the lighthouse.

After the Maritime Museum, we drove to the look-out area to get the scope of how big Grays Harbor is.  The entrance is 2 miles wide and the "bar" is tricky/dangerous due to the Chehalis River trying to flow out to the Pacific.  

You can see the river trying to flow out, causing very strong rip currents.

VERY low tide, you do not want to try to exit the bar at this time.

Oh yes, National Geographic...

Big male with his harem. 

We were told to stay clear of him, he's very aggressive.

More raccoons! 

Whatchu lookin' at?

Tonight's sunset, looking towards the Pacific...

Oh yeah, did I mention there's pixies at Westport Marina??