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Essex Reef Lighthouse

Fl G 4s🇺🇸Connecticut, USOperational

Location & Light Range

About Essex Reef Lighthouse

A wooden tower was erected in 1889 on Essex Reef, marking the Connecticut River. This structure was later replaced by a skeleton tower by 1919. A few years before 1931, the light was converted to an automatic gas light. The current 7.9-meter skeleton tower serves as an active daymark. It emits a green flash every 4 seconds.

Why it matters: The light aided navigation on the Connecticut River for many years.

Background
The Essex Reef Light or Essex Reef Post Light, also known as Hayden's Point Light, was a light in Essex, Connecticut on the Connecticut River. The 21-foot (6.4 m) wooden tower was erected in 1889 and replaced with a skeleton tower by 1919. The skeleton tower was further altered to an automatic gas light a few years prior to 1931. Its keeper, Gilbert Burnett "Bernie" Hayden served for 30 years. As of 2014, a 26-foot (7.9 m) skeleton tower serves as an active daymark and it has a green flash every 4 seconds.

Light & Optic

Characteristic Signature
Fl G 4s
Flash Type
Flashing
Light Color
Green
Flash Count
1 flash
Interval
4s
Focal Height
8m

Location

City
Connecticut
Country
🇺🇸US
Latitude
41.3452°
Longitude
-72.3767°

Nearby Vessels

Flag
Type
Name
Dist.

Construction & History

Year Built
1889

References & Identifiers

Wikipedia
Read on Wikipedia →
Wikidata
Q16891179 →
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do mariners identify Essex Reef Lighthouse at night?+
Essex Reef displays the characteristic Fl G 4s — 1 green flash every 4 seconds. Each lighthouse has a unique flash pattern published in the List of Lights, allowing mariners to positively identify it and distinguish it from other navigation aids in the area. The green color may indicate a specific sector or warning zone.
Which ports and harbors does Essex Reef Lighthouse guide vessels into?+
Essex Reef Lighthouse assists vessels approaching 5 nearby ports. The closest is OLD LYME at 2 NM to the SE. Other ports served include OLD SAYBROOK (2.2 NM SSE), NORTH COVE (3.4 NM S), BREWER DEEP RIVER (3.5 NM NW), CHESTER (4.6 NM NNW). Mariners should consult the relevant chart for full approach and pilotage information.
Is Essex Reef Lighthouse still active and maintained?+
Yes, Essex Reef Lighthouse is currently operational. It is actively maintained and continues to emit its characteristic light signal for marine navigation. Most modern lighthouses are automated and monitored remotely by the national maritime authority.
What shipping routes pass near Essex Reef Lighthouse?+
Essex Reef Lighthouse is located within the US East Coast shipping lane — a major shipping corridor serving ports along the Atlantic seaboard of the United States. This makes it an important navigation reference for commercial shipping traffic in the region.
How can I track vessels near Essex Reef Lighthouse?+
You can track vessels near Essex Reef Lighthouse in real time using MarineRadar. The platform shows live AIS positions of ships in the area, including vessel name, type, flag, speed, and course. Use the "Track Vessels Nearby" button on this page to open the live map centered on this lighthouse.