Ciara Appelbaum, 5h, August 07, 2017
Lighthouses have been guiding mariners to safety since 268 BC.
While many of them have been rendered useless today, thanks to modern technology, they still brighten the shores with their beauty.
These are the 26 most stunning lighthouses in the world.
Kovalam Beach Lighthouse, India. Pikoso.kz/ Shutterstock
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Lindau Lighthouse is the southernmost lighthouse in Germany, and sits on Lake Constance. The medieval tower, built in 1856, even has a clock!
This ancient Roman lighthouse, dating back to the late 1st century A.D, has gained recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It can be found towering over the entrance of La CoruÃąa harbor in north-western Spain.
Low Lighthouse is the only active lighthouse in Burnham-on-Sea, England. The small wooden lighthouse is a popular photo-op thanks to its nine "legs."
Located in North Carolina's Outer Banks, this 156-foot lighthouse shines a beam so bright it reaches a whopping 19 miles offshore.
This stunning lighthouse in County Donegal, Ireland, was completed in 1817. Not only is the lighthouse beautiful, Donegal was voted the coolest place on the planet in 2017.
The Egyptian style lighthouse, which was built in the late 16th century, was destroyed during the Turkish occupation and rebuilt between 1824 and 1832. It sits on its original base.
This lighthouse is the brightest light on the Oregon coast, and said to be the most photographed lighthouse in the entire US. It is even home to a charming bed and breakfast.
Located on the north coast of Spain, Mouro Island Lighthouse sits on its own uninhabited island.
This still-active lighthouse is one of the most popular tourist attractions the area.
Kovalam Beach Lighthouse is so pretty that the beach it sits on â Lighthouse Beach â was named after it. Vistors can climb 142 steps to the top to see expansive views of Poovar Island and the famous Beemapalli mosque.
Located on Bait Island, St. Mary's Lighthouse and its cottage were built in the late 19th century. The cottage went on sale several years ago for around $553,000, complete with 19th century graffiti and gunshots in some doors.
Located in Acadia National Park, this lighthouse was built in 1858 and stands 56 feet high.
Located on the westernmost tip of Skye, visitors need to walk 45 minutes (there and back) through the rugged landscape of the picturesque Isle of Skye to get there. Don't worry â there is a walking path.
Diamond Head Lighthouse is located on the side of the famous Diamond Head crater in Honolulu. The lighthouse was built in order to warn vessels to stay away from the reefs at Waikiki.
Kermorvan Lighthouse is an active lighthouse on the easternmost point of France, and was built in 1849.
This lighthouse, believed to be the oldest structure in Newport, Oregon, is located in Yaquina Bay State Park.
Big Sable Point Light is 112 feet tall, and stands on the stunning shores of Lake Michigan, near the town of Ludington.
Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse sits on the southern tip of Argentina, and is known for having penguins and walruses lazing nearby
Perched on top of a stone spire, this lighthouse looks like something straight out of "The Little Mermaid." Destroyed in WWII, it was rebuilt in the early 1990s, and is said to look just as magical as before.
This lighthouse is surrounded by sand dunes. However, when it was built in the 1900s, there were no sand dunes nearby, and it was much further inland than it was now. Over the years, the sea encroached and wind blew so much sand on it that at times its light was barely visible.
Cape Byron Light is Australia's most easterly lighthouse. The colonial style lighthouse, constructed in 1899, stands â74 feet tall.
Boston Light, located in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, is America's Oldest Light Station, dating back to 1716. Still standing today, it is often dubbed "the ideal American lighthouse."
This beautiful lighthouse, built in 1809, is the perfect destinations for bird lovers. Visitors can climb to the top and observe thousands of seabirds, including guillemots, razorbills, and puffins. Just be wary â the lighthouse supposedly super haunted.
Named after the first Spanish settler dwelling on the shores of southern Uruguay, this lighthouse was built in 1877. Its sandy color blends in with the surrounding rocks and dunes.
Built 800 years ago, Hook lighthouse claims to be the oldest operational lighthouse in the world. Some believe the saying "by hook or by crook" originated here.
Located on the north shore of Lake Superior, this stunning lighthouse sits on top of a 130-foot cliff. It is coupled with Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, which has more than 2,000 acres of trails, waterways, and campgrounds to explore.
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