[Tagging] Difference between lighthouses and beacons

[Andrew Davidson]

On 16/01/18 19:34, Malcolm Herring wrote:
> The main point that I was trying to make is that a simple pile or 
> lattice tower with a light on top should not be tagged as 
> man_made=lighthouse, but man_made=beacon.

Not always. A lighthouse is a structure housing a major marine 
navigation light. What a major light is less clear but usually has a 
nominal range of 15 nmi or more.

This 
https://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/photos/Australia2/EmeryPointNT.jpg 
is Emery Point Lighthouse. It has a nominal range of 19 nmi and is a 
major light.

Alternatively you can use the wiki definition for man_made=lighthouse; 
which is that any tower carrying a navigation light is a lighthouse. 
Only problem is that some lighthouses like this Canadian example:

http://www.brucebaycottages.com/fileman/Uploads/Images/mckay-island-lighthouse-bbc.jpg

wouldn't be a lighthouse as it's not a tower.