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This page discusses beacons in general, which are often created by fires, lights or other means designed to attract attention. See also: Radio beacon, which are non-visual radio signals for navigational and other purposes. For other uses of the word, see Beacon (disambiguation).A
beacon is an intentionally conspicuous device designed to attract attention to a specific location.
Beacons can also be combined with semaphoric or other indicators to provide important information, such as the status of an airport, by the colour and rotational pattern of its
airport beacon, or of pending weather as indicated on a
weather beacon mounted at the top of a tall building or similar site. When used in such fashion, beacons can be considered a form of
optical telegraphy.
For navigation
Beacons help guide
navigators to their destinations. Types of navigational beacons include
radar reflectors,
radio beacons, sonic and visual signals. Visual beacons range from small, single-pile structures to large
lighthouses or light stations and can be located on land or on water. Lighted beacons are called
lights; unlighted beacons are called
daybeacons.
For defensive communications
Classically, beacons were fires lit at well-known locations on hills or high places, used either as
lighthouses for
navigation at sea, or for signalling over land that enemy troops were approaching, in order to alert defenses. As signals, beacons are an ancient form of
optical telegraphy, and were part of a
relay league.
Systems of this kind have existed for centuries over much of the world. In
Scandinavia many
hill forts were part of beacon networks to warn against invading pillagers. In
Wales, the
Brecon Beacons were named for beacons used to warn of approaching
English raiders. In England, the most famous examples are the beacons used in
Elizabethan England to warn of the approaching
Spanish Armada. Many hills in
England were named
Beacon Hill after such beacons. In the
Scottish borders country a system of beacon fires were at one time established to warn of incursions by the English. Hume, Eggerstone castle and Soltra Edge were part of this network.
Other uses
Beacons and
bonfires are also used to mark occasions and celebrate events. In
Israel beacons identify the beginning of the month.
Beacons have also been abused by
pirates. An illicit fire at a wrong position could be used to direct a ship against
shoals or
beaches, so that its cargo could be looted after the ship sank or ran aground.
In fiction
In
The Lord of the Rings, a series of seven beacons is used as a signaling device between
Gondor and
Rohan. In the
film adaptation of The Return of the King,
Gandalf has
Pippin light the beacon closest to
Minas Tirith. The series is then lit, thereby notifying Rohan's King
Théoden that Gondor calls for help in the battle against
Sauron.
See also
