Moving An Entire Town Before It Collapses
Synopsis
A 31-meter tall lighthouse on Nantucket Island is at risk of falling off a cliff, prompting a team to move it to safety before winter storms arrive.
Synopsis
A lighthouse sits precariously on the edge of a cliff on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. Its location puts it at risk of collapsing into the Atlantic Ocean. Meanwhile, a town in Sweden faces a different threat, with ground instability near a mineshaft. Teams of movers undertake the challenge of relocating both the 31-meter tall Sankaty Head Lighthouse and the Swedish town to safer ground. The operations are complicated by harsh winter weather, pressing both teams to act quickly as conditions worsen.
Deep Dive
Why Watch
- See how Nantucket residents fight to save their lighthouse.
- Find out what happens when a town is relocated eight kilometers away.
- Meet the team battling a blizzard to save homes from collapse.
Did You Know
- The Sankaty Head Lighthouse has been protecting Nantucket fishermen for over 150 years.
- In October 1991, a hurricane caused five meters of cliff to collapse in just five nights.
- The erosion at Sankaty Head averages three feet of loss per year.
- The islanders raised almost four million dollars to save the lighthouse.
Perfect For
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money have islanders raised to save the lighthouse?
Islanders have raised almost four million dollars to save the lighthouse.
How far must the Sankety Head lighthouse be moved to be safe?
Geologists have calculated that the lighthouse must be moved 123 meters inland.
What extreme weather conditions did the rescue team face during the operation?
The team faced conditions of minus 15 degrees Celsius and 50 centimeters of snow.
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