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Lighthouses and Light Stations

A lighthouse or light station is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and to serve as a navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways.

Lighthouses mark dangerous coastlines, hazardous shoals, reefs, and safe entries to harbours, and assist in aerial navigation. The number of operational lighthouses has declined due to the expense of maintenance and availability of electronic navigational systems. 

Lighthouses are now called light stations as they are no longer staffed. They continue to be used in many places in South Australia to allow ships safe passage.

Incredibly, before the first lighthouse was built, lightships lit the way for ships into Outer Harbour and Port Adelaide. 

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