Leaning Christchurch lighthouse guided to its own safe waters
A symbol of safety in Christchurch's port for 130 years has returned to its rightful home after close to a decade in storage.
The region's September 2010 earthquake left the Lyttelton Lighthouse leaning over precariously after the foundations of the harbour’s eastern mole on which it stood subsided almost two metres.
It rested that way for eight months, tilting at an angle of 15 degrees – four times that of the Leaning Tower of Pisa – until it was rescued in May 2011. It was then carried by barge across the harbour to safe land, stored carefully near the entrance to the Lyttelton Tunnel.
With the mole, or breakwater, repaired as part of the project to build a cruise-ship berth in Lyttelton, the lighthouse was last week returned to its original spot and affixed to new foundations.
International shipping regulations mean the lighthouse will be off-limits to the public, although people will have a good view of it from nearby Naval Point – and of course from the sea.
And while its days as a navigation necessity came to an end in the early 1990s, the glow of its paraffin lamp replaced by modern lights, the Lyttelton Lighthouse will still shine out across the harbour.
Today’s Mind-Bender is the Last of the Year! Can You Guess It Before Everyone Else? 🌟🎁🌲
I dance in the sky with green and gold, a spectacle few are lucky to behold; I’m best seen in the south, a celestial sight—what am I, lighting up the New Zealand night?
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed? No worries! Simply head here and click once on the Following button.
No gift? No stress
Let the Christmas elves at Mags4gifts.co.nz handle your last-minute shopping. For a limited time, gift a subscription with up to 40% off best-sellers like TV Guide, NZ House & Garden, and NZ Gardener. It’s the perfect Christmas present, sorted in minutes (and no one needs to know it was a last-minute surprise)!
Poll: Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?
🎁 Holiday Gift Chat!
Do you ever regift?
What’s your take on asking for a receipt if a gift doesn’t fit?
-
79.3% Yes! It's better to regift what I don't need
-
20.7% No. It's the thought and effort that matters
Loading…
