Maclear’s Beacon

stone-cairn beacon, South Africa

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June 30, 2026

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Maclear's Beacon is a stone-cairn trigonometrical beacon located on the northeastern face of Table Mountain in South Africa. It was placed there in the 19th century by Sir Thomas Maclear. A beacon, in general, is a signaling object or device that indicates geographical location or direction, or a conspicuous object visible from a distance. Marker beacons are used to assist mariners and can also mark fairways in harbors and rivers.12

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Table Mountain
The highest point is Maclear’s Beacon (3,563 feet), which is named for a stone-cairn trigonometrical beacon placed on the northeastern face by Sir Thomas Maclear in the 19th century.
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The highest point is Maclear’s Beacon (3,563 feet), which is named for a stone-cairn trigonometrical beacon placed on the northeastern face by Sir Thomas Maclear in the 19th century.
Read More