Beam Me Up! Trivia Quiz

Galle Lighthouse is a white tower which stands on the ramparts of Galle Fort in southern Sri Lanka. It was originally built by the British in 1848 and was the country's first onshore lighthouse. After a fire destroyed the original, the current version was rebuilt in 1939 just a short distance from the original site.

Rising 26.5 meters above the Indian Ocean, it still functions today, guiding ships safely into Galle Harbour. Its location on the Point Utrecht Bastion gives it sweeping views of the sea and the historic fort. Though you can't climb the lighthouse itself, the surrounding area is perfect for a scenic walk. It is a symbol of Sri Lanka's colonial past and maritime heritage.

Fanad Lighthouse is perched on the rugged northern coast of County Donegal, Ireland, where the Atlantic Ocean meets Lough Swilly. It was first lit on St. Patrick's Day in 1817, built in response to the tragic wreck of the HMS Saldanha in 1811, which claimed over 250 lives. The only survivor was a parrot wearing a silver collar with the ship's name.

Designed by renowned engineer George Halpin, the lighthouse stands 22 meters tall and has guided sailors for over two centuries. It was originally powered by oil lamps and later modernised with electricity and automation. Today, it's part of the Great Lighthouses of Ireland trail and offers guided tours, panoramic views from the tower, and even a cosy snug in the former keepers' cottages

Petit Minou Lighthouse is situated on a rocky outcrop at the entrance to the Brest harbour in Brittany, France. Built in 1848 and standing 26 meters tall, it works in tandem with the nearby Portzic Lighthouse to guide ships safely through the narrow Goulet de Brest strait.

The lighthouse sits in front of the historic Fort du Petit Minou, which dates back to the 17th century, and it is connected to the mainland by an arched bridge. Its name comes from the Breton word min, meaning 'mouth', referring to its position at the mouth of the channel.

Though fully automated since the 1980s, the lighthouse remains a beloved landmark, drawing visitors for its dramatic coastal views.

Lindesnes Lighthouse stands at the southernmost tip of mainland Norway, where the North Sea meets the Skagerrak Strait. It is a piece of living history. First lit in 1656, it was Norway's very first beacon, though the current cast-iron tower dates from 1915. Painted white with a red lantern, it rises 16 meters high, but thanks to its elevated perch, its light reaches nearly 20 nautical miles out to sea.

This lighthouse has seen centuries of storms, shipwrecks, and even wartime occupation. During World War II, German forces fortified the area, and remnants of bunkers and tunnels still remain. Today, it's fully automated but also serves as a museum and cultural centre, complete with exhibitions, a cinema, and even an underground concert hall carved into the rock.

The Tower of Hercules is a mighty stone lighthouse that's been standing tall on the coast of A Coruña, in north-western Spain, since Roman times. It dates back to the 1st century AD. That makes it the oldest functioning lighthouse in the world. Originally built by the Romans, possibly under Emperor Trajan, it was designed to guide ships safely along the treacherous Atlantic coast.

The tower rises about 55 meters and was restored in the late 1700s with a neoclassical façade, but its Roman core is still intact. It's been in continuous use for nearly two millennia and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009 for its historical and architectural significance.

Legend has it that Hercules himself built the tower after defeating a giant, and the city of A Coruña was founded on that very spot. Whether myth or history, the lighthouse is a powerful symbol of endurance.

Peggy's Cove Lighthouse, officially known as Peggy's Point Lighthouse, is one of Canada's most iconic and photographed landmarks. Perched on a rugged granite outcrop in the tiny fishing village of Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia, it's a classic red-and-white beacon that's been guiding ships since 1915. It stands about 15 meters tall and was built to replace an earlier wooden structure from 1868.

The lighthouse is steeped in local legend. Some say the village was named after a shipwreck survivor named Peggy, while others believe it's simply a shortened form of St. Margaret's Bay. Either way, the lighthouse has become a symbol of Nova Scotia's maritime heritage and coastal charm.

Eddystone Lighthouse is a legendary beacon standing on a treacherous reef about 14 miles off the coast of Plymouth, England, in the English Channel. It is famous not just for its location, but for the incredible engineering stories behind its many versions.

The first lighthouse was built in 1698 by Henry Winstanley, but it was swept away in a violent storm in 1703, with Winstanley himself inside. The second, designed by John Rudyerd, lasted nearly 50 years before being destroyed by fire. The third, built by John Smeaton in 1759, was revolutionary: made of interlocking stone blocks and shaped like an oak tree for strength, it set the standard for future lighthouse design. Though the rock beneath it eventually weakened, the tower itself was so solid that it was moved to Plymouth Hoe, where it still stands as a monument.

The current lighthouse, completed in 1882 by James Douglass, is taller, stronger, and still in operation today, now fully automated and powered by solar energy.

Mahabalipuram Lighthouse is situated on India's south-eastern coast, in the ancient port town of Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu. Built in 1904, it rises 26 meters high and still guides ships along the Bay of Bengal. But its story goes much deeper.

Right beside it stands an even older lighthouse, the Olakkannesvara Temple, where bonfires once lit the way for sailors as far back as the 7th century. That temple, carved from rock by the Pallava dynasty, is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and adds a layer of sacred history to the site.

It was closed for a time due to security concerns but reopened to the public in 2011. Now, visitors can climb to the top for sweeping views of the sea, the Shore Temple, and the stone-carved wonders of Mahabalipuram.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is a black-and-white spiral beacon on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It is famous for both its height and its history. Built in 1870, it stands at 210 feet, making it the tallest brick lighthouse in the U.S. Its job is to warn sailors of the deadly Diamond Shoals, shifting sandbars that earned the area the nickname 'Graveyard of the Atlantic'.

The lighthouse has had quite the journey, literally. In 1999, due to severe beach erosion, the entire structure was moved nearly half a mile inland to save it from the encroaching sea. It's survived storms, war, and even vandalism, and today it still shines, automated and electric, guiding ships safely past the coast.

The red-and-white striped Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse is perched on a rocky islet in the Beagle Channel, just off the coast of Ushuaia in southern Argentina. Built in 1920, it stands 11 meters tall and has been guiding ships safely through these remote waters for over a century.

Despite often being nicknamed the 'Lighthouse at the End of the World', it's not the one from Jules Verne's novel. That's a different lighthouse farther east. Les Éclaireurs is fully automated, solar-powered, and not open to the public, but it's a popular sight on boat tours from Ushuaia. With its dramatic setting and enduring presence, it's become a symbol of the southernmost reaches of South America.