Greek lighthouses attract record numbers of visitors in one day

Nearly 18,000 adults and children paid a visit to 18 Greek lighthouses  that were opened to the public on World Lighthouse Day.

Visitors were given tours by lighthouse keepers, officers of the Hellenic Navy who are responsible for their uninterrupted operation and upkeep.

The Greek Lighthouse Network along the coastline is over 20,000 kilometers long. The Navy's Lighthouse Service (https://yf.hellenicnavy.gr/) oversees 144 stone-built lighthouses with 1,297 lanterns that cover the lighting needs for over 30,000 islands, islets, rocky islets, and rocks as well as over 800 main ports, large or small, and fishing shelters.

According to the Lighthouse Service sight, as of 1980 the lanterns run on solar power which is stored. The system is turned on after sunset and at sunset the solar cell breaks the circuit and turns off the lantern. The system can store enough solar power to run over 15 days, in case weather conditions do not allow energy collection and storage.

Of the 18 lighthouses that were open to the public, 7 did not allow access to the tower.

The following locations participated in open day on Sunday: Megalo Emvolo (Thessaloniki), Akrotiri (Santorini), Arkitsa (Fthiotida), Moudari (Kythira island), Gourouni (Skopelos island), Keri (Zakynthos island), Kranai (Gythio), Melagavi (Loutraki), Plaka (Limnos island), Koraka (Paros island), Alexandroupolis, Tenaro (Laconia), Kaki Kefali (Chalkida), Vassilina (Evia), Doukato (Lefkas island), Katakolo (Ilia), Drepano (Patras), Kastro Antirriou (Nafpaktos).