Smallest Island

An island is a type of landform defined as one that is surrounded by bodies or a body of water. There are thousands of many different islands found all over the world and these are usually classified into to 2 main categories: continental and oceanic.

These islands come in various sizes and a good number of these are fit for human habitation.

What is the Smallest Island in the World?

Bishop Rock is considered as the smallest island in the world. It is so small that it made the list in the Guinness Book of World Records as the smallest island all across the globe.

Located in at the western tip of the Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom – about four miles off thereabouts; this island is only big enough to accommodate a lighthouse. As a matter of fact, the island is best known for its lighthouse which stands at forty-nine meters or about one hundred and sixty-seven feet; on a forty-six meters long by sixteen meters wide land expanse consisting mostly of rocks.

Bishop Rock Lighthouse

The first attempt to build a lighthouse on Bishop Rock was some time in 1847 but before it can ever be lit, a strong storm washed the structure away. The original design required the lighthouse to be built from iron materials.

Another attempt was made in 1851 and this time, it was made from stone materials. After much work and careful planning, the lighthouse was finally completed in 1858 and on that same year, some time in September; the lighthouse was lit for the very first time.

Work on the tower to make it sturdier and able to withstand strong weather conditions was undertaken by Sir James Nicholas Douglass, a civil engineer best known for building lighthouses.

Renovations began in 1882 and work was completed five years later, in 1887.

Called as the “King of Lighthouses,” the Bishop Rock Lighthouse is considered as the 2nd tallest lighthouse in Britain. Building and renovating it cost over one hundred thousand pounds, approximately around £111,948.

To better reach Bishop Rock Lighthouse, the Corporation of Trinity House of Deptford Strond which is the official authority on lighthouse regulations in England; decided to build a helicopter pad atop the lighthouse tower in the mid-1970s.

With its majestic look and historical value, Bishop Rock Lighthouse has been used as a location for films and shows.

When it was first built, it was a manned lighthouse but in 1991; the lighthouse was transformed into a fully-automated model thus compelling the lighthouse keepers to leave the premises the following year.