76,000 lighthouses shine in interactive atlas

While the earliest lighthouses were little more than large bonfires on hilltops, their underlying principle has always been the same for thousands of years. These towering coastal sentinels have helped sailors from around the world navigate vast oceans, avoid dangerous shoals, and sometimes simply find their way home. However, it’s sometimes difficult to comprehend just how crucial the buildings remain for maritime crews—but one fascinating (and frequently hypnotic) online mapping pr