加斯帕里拉岛灯塔后导标灯, 博卡格兰德, 佛罗里达州, 美国 Gasparilla Island Rear Range Light, Boca Grande, Florida (© Wiltser/Getty Images)

加斯帕里拉岛灯塔后导标灯, 博卡格兰德, 佛罗里达州, 美国 Gasparilla Island Rear Range Light, Boca Grande, Florida (© Wiltser/Getty Images)

海岸的密码 

国家灯塔日

在GPS尚未为船只导航之前，灯塔就是航海者的重要领航标。每座灯塔都拥有独特的闪光模式，即使在漆黑的夜晚，水手们也能凭此确定自身所处的位置。今天是美国国家灯塔日，正是向这些沿海守护者致敬的良机。1789年，美国国会通过法案，规定所有灯塔由联邦政府统一维护。不论你是历史爱好者、海岸探险者，还是单纯钟爱经典工程建筑的人，这一天都值得你去深入了解灯塔的故事，或与亲朋好友一同参观灯塔。

如同世界上许多灯塔一样，佛罗里达州的加斯帕里拉岛灯塔至今仍屹立于海岸。今日图片中所示的加斯帕里拉岛后方灯塔，有着一段曲折的历史。它最初在特拉华州组装，1927年迁至此地。然而在2014年，这座灯塔被美国海岸警卫队废弃。所幸，这座灯塔在2017年经过修复，2018年再次点亮。如今，它每六秒闪烁一次白光。这两座灯塔均已被列入美国国家史迹名录。灯塔周边区域及其博物馆在特定季节对外开放，向人们讲述这片海域的航运历史。

National Lighthouse Day

Before GPS told ships where to go, lighthouses lit the way—each with its own flash pattern so sailors could figure out where they were, even in total darkness. It's National Lighthouse Day, a perfect excuse to give these coastal workhorses some credit. In 1789, Congress passed a law to make sure all lighthouses were taken care of by the federal government. Whether you're a history buff, coastal explorer, or just into old engineering, today is a great day to learn more about lighthouses or visit one with your friends and family.

Like many lighthouses around the world, Florida's Gasparilla Island Lights still hold their ground. The Gasparilla Island Rear Range Light, seen in today's image, has had quite a journey. Originally assembled in Delaware, it found its forever home here in 1927 but was decommissioned by the Coast Guard in 2014. The lighthouse was restored to its former glory in 2017 and was switched on again in 2018. Today, it blinks white every six seconds. Both lights are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The lighthouse grounds and museum are open to visitors seasonally, offering insights into the area's shipping past.