Editing Robben Island (section)

==Maritime hazard==
[[File:AMH-2554-NA Map of Robben Island.jpg|thumb|Dutch map of the island, from 1731]]
Seagoing vessels must take great care navigating near Robben Island and nearby Whale Rock (it does not break the surface) as these pose a danger to shipping.<ref name="Horsburgh">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gCk6YV5AslIC|title=The India Directory, Or Directions for Sailing to and from the East Indies, China, Australia and the Interjacent Ports|page=71|author=James Horsburgh|year=1852|publisher=W. H. Allen & Co.}}</ref> A prevailing rough [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] [[Swell (ocean)|swell]] surrounds the offshore reefs and the island's jagged coastline. Stricken vessels driven onto rocks are quickly broken up by the powerful [[Breaking wave|surf]]. A total of 31 vessels are known to have been wrecked around the island.<ref name="Smith"/>

In 1990, a marine archaeology team from the [[University of Cape Town]] began Operation "Sea Eagle". It was an underwater survey that scanned {{Convert|9|nmi2|km2|order=flip|abbr=off|0}} of seabed around Robben Island. The task was made particularly difficult by the strong currents and high waves of these waters. The group found 24 vessels that had sunk around Robben Island. Most wrecks were found in waters less than {{convert|10|m|ft|spell=in}} deep. The team concluded that poor weather, darkness and fog were the cause of the sinkings.<ref name="Smith">{{cite book|title=Robben Island|first=Charlene |last=Smith|publisher=Struik|year= 1997|pages=30–32|isbn= 9781868720620}}</ref>

Maritime wrecks around Robben Island and its surrounding waters include the 17th-century Dutch [[East Indiaman]] ships, the ''Yeanger van Horne'' (1611), the ''Shaapejacht'' (1660), and the ''Dageraad'' (1694). Later 19th-century wrecks include several British [[brig]]s, including the ''Gondolier'' (1836), and the [[United States]] [[clipper]], ''A.H. Stevens'' (1866). In 1901 the mail steamer SS ''Tantallon Castle'' struck rocks off Robben Island in dense fog shortly after leaving Cape Town. After distress cannons were fired from the island, nearby vessels rushed to the rescue. All 120 passengers and crew were taken off the ship before it was broken apart in the relentless swell. A further 17 ships have been wrecked in the 20th century, including [[United Kingdom|British]], [[Spain|Spanish]], [[Norway|Norwegian]] and [[Taiwan]]ese vessels.

===Robben Island lighthouse===
[[File:Robben Island-003.jpg|thumb|left|Robben Island Lighthouse]]

Due to the maritime danger of Robben Island and its near waters, [[Jan van Riebeeck]], the first Dutch colonial administrator in Cape Town in the 1650s, ordered that huge bonfires were to be lit at night on top of Fire Hill, the highest point on the island (now Minto Hill). These were to warn [[Dutch East India Company|VOC]] ships that they were approaching the island.

In 1865, Robben Island lighthouse was completed on Minto Hill.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb__8BBAAAAIAAJ|title=''The Seaman's Guide to the Navigation of the Indian Ocean and China Sea''|author=William Henry Rosser, James Frederick Imray|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb__8BBAAAAIAAJ/page/n349 280]|year=1867|access-date=4 October 2008|publisher=J. Imray & Son}}</ref> The cylindrical masonry tower, which has an attached lightkeeper's house at its base, is {{convert|18|m|ft}} high with a lantern gallery at the top. In 1938, the lamp was converted to electricity. The lighthouse uses a flashing lantern instead of a revolving lamp; it shines for a duration of 5 seconds every seven seconds. The 46,000-[[candela]] beam, visible up to {{convert|24|nmi|km|order=flip}} away, flashes white light away from [[Table Bay]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lighthousedepot.com/lite_explorer.asp?action=display_details&LighthouseID=1146|title=Robben Island Lighthouse|access-date=29 October 2014|archive-date=14 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614085756/http://www.lighthousedepot.com/lite_explorer.asp?action=display_details&LighthouseID=1146|url-status=dead}}</ref> A secondary red light acts as a navigation aid for vessels sailing south-southeast.