A Scandinavian beacon being lit.

Beacons are aids to navigation devices. Intentionally conspicuous, beacons help guide navigators to their destinations. Beacon types include radar reflectors, radio beacons, and sonic or visual signals. Visual beacons range from small, single-pile structures to large lighthouses or light stations and are located on land or in water. Lighted beacons are called lights; unlighted beacons are called daybeacons. Telegraph Signal Tower at Cobbs Hill, near New Market, Virginia, 1864. ... Look up Beacon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ... This article is about determination of position and direction on or above the surface of the earth. ... A Radio beacon is non-direction transmitter that usually transmits a constant signal on a specified radio frequency. ...

Classically, beacons are fires lit on hills or high places, used either as lighthouses for navigation at sea, or for signalling over land that enemy troops are approaching, and alerting the defense. In the latter iteration, beacons are an ancient form of optical telegraphy, and were always parts of a relay league. Eddystone Lighthouse, one of the first wavewashed lighthouses For other uses, see Lighthouse (disambiguation). ... The optical telegraph preceded the electrical telegraph. ... A relay league is a chain of message forwarding stations in a system of optical telegraphs, radio telegraph stations, or riding couriers. ...

Systems of this kind have existed for centuries over much of the world. Indeed, in Scandinavia many hill forts were parts of beacon networks to warn against invading pillagers. For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ... The term hill fort is commonly used by archeologists to describe fortified enclosures located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. ...

In Israel beacons were used to show the beginning of the month.

In Wales, the Brecon Beacons were named for beacons used to warn of approaching English raiders. This article is about the country. ... Part of the Brecon Beacons, looking from the highest point Pen y Fan, 886 m (2907 feet), to Cribyn, 795 m (2608 feet) The Brecon Beacons (Welsh: Bannau Brycheiniog) are a mountain range located in the south-east of Wales. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ...

In England, the most famous examples are the beacons used in Elizabethan England to warn of the approaching Spanish Armada. Many hills in England are named Beacon Hill after these beacons. The Elizabethan Era is the period associated with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558 - 1603) and is often considered to be a golden age in English history. ... Combatants England Dutch Republic Spain Portugal Commanders Elizabeth I of England Charles Howard Francis Drake Philip II of Spain Duke of Medina Sidonia Strength 34 warships 163 armed merchant vessels 22 galleons 108 armed merchant vessels Casualties 50–100 dead[1] ~400 wounded 600 dead, 800 wounded,[2] 397 captured... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Beacon Hill is a name shared by many hills, suburbs, villages and other places around the world. ...

Beacons have often been abused by pirates. A fire at a wrong position was used to direct a ship against cliffs or beaches, so the cargo could be looted after the ship sank or ran aground. Look up pirate and piracy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... “Precipice” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Beach (disambiguation). ...

In The Lord of the Rings, a series of seven beacons are used as a signaling device between Gondor and Rohan. [1] In the film adaptation of The Return of the King, Gandalf has Pippin light the beacon closest to Minas Tirith. The series is then lit, thereby notifying Rohan's King Théoden that Gondor needs aid in the battle against Sauron. This article is about the novel. ... For the city in Ethiopia, see Gondar. ... For other uses, see Rohan (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Gandalf (disambiguation). ... Peregrin Took (T.A. 2990–F.A. 70), better known to his friends as Pippin, is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkiens universe of Middle-earth, a Hobbit, and one of Frodo Bagginss youngest but dearest friends. ... Minas Tirith (IPA: ), originally named Minas Anor, is a heavily fortified city in J. R. R. Tolkiens Middle-earth writings, which was the capital of Gondor in the second half of the Third Age. ... In J. R. R. Tolkiens The Lord of the Rings, Théoden was the seventeenth King of Rohan, and last of the Second Line. ... This article is about a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkiens Middle-earth fantasy writings. ...

World famous animal rights activist, Byron hall, once famously quoted

" its not a kangaroo man, its a fucking beacon!"

See also

• Aerodrome beacon
• Marker beacon
• Distress radiobeacons (ELTs, PLBs & EPIRBs)
• Beacon, New York