Daedalus Reef Lighthouse in 2009 | |
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Location | Marsa Alam,Red Sea,Egypt |
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Coordinates | 24°55′24″N35°51′30″E / 24.9233°N 35.8583°E /24.9233; 35.8583 |
Tower | |
Constructed | 1863 |
Construction | Stone tower |
Height | 30 feet (9.1 m) |
Shape | Cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern rising from a 2-story building[1] |
Markings | Tower painted in white and black horizontal bands |
Light | |
First lit | 1931 |
Focal height | 30 feet (9.1 m) |
Range | 15 nautical miles (28 km; 17 mi) |
Characteristic | Three white flashes every 12 s. |
Daedalus Reef (also known as Abu Kizan) is a 400-meter-long and 100-meter-wide (1,310–330 ft) standalone reef in theEgyptianRed Sea situated about 90 kilometers fromMarsa Alam.[2][3] There is a small artificial island in the center of the reef, which hosts a lighthouse constructed in 1863 and rebuilt in 1931.[4] Daedalus reef is a well-known place for diving because of good chances to seepelagic fish, such ashammerhead sharks, and an abundance of corals. In the high season one can find many dive safari boats staying overnight, anchored to the reef.
The 30 m (98 ft) lighthouse and the station is still active with 3 white flashes in a 2+1 pattern flashes every 30 seconds and only accessible by boats.The lighthouse consists of a 30 m stone tower painted in black and white horizontal bands, and a 2-story quarter building for the Egyptian coast guard and Navy.
Climate data for Daedalus Reef | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 24.0 (75.2) | 23.7 (74.7) | 25.0 (77.0) | 27.0 (80.6) | 29.4 (84.9) | 30.6 (87.1) | 32.4 (90.3) | 33.1 (91.6) | 31.3 (88.3) | 30.2 (86.4) | 28.3 (82.9) | 25.4 (77.7) | 28.4 (83.1) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 22.2 (72.0) | 21.7 (71.1) | 22.8 (73.0) | 24.4 (75.9) | 27.2 (81.0) | 28.3 (82.9) | 30.0 (86.0) | 30.0 (86.0) | 28.8 (83.8) | 27.8 (82.0) | 26.1 (79.0) | 23.3 (73.9) | 26.1 (78.9) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 20.2 (68.4) | 19.9 (67.8) | 20.9 (69.6) | 22.6 (72.7) | 25.2 (77.4) | 26.1 (79.0) | 27.3 (81.1) | 28.0 (82.4) | 27.1 (80.8) | 26.0 (78.8) | 24.1 (75.4) | 21.7 (71.1) | 24.1 (75.4) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 1 (0.0) | 1 (0.0) | 1 (0.0) | 1 (0.0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 5 (0.2) | 2 (0.1) | 11 (0.3) |
Averagerelative humidity (%) | 68 | 70 | 74 | 70 | 77 | 78 | 77 | 76 | 78 | 79 | 73 | 68 | 74 |
Source: Arab Meteorology Book[5] |
24°55′42″N35°51′42″E / 24.92833°N 35.86167°E /24.92833; 35.86167