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Australians hug lighthouse in world-record making embrace

Xinhua, August 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

Marking International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend (ILLW), tourists, residents and historians gave a world-record making embrace to one of Australia's oldest steel lighthouses.

Some 1,000 people - reportedly a world-record - participated in a group hug around the base of the 137-year-old, 34-meter tall Point Moore Lighthouse, 400 km north of Perth at the weekend, Australia's national broadcaster reported on Monday.

Started by amateur radio operators, ILLW connects the operators with lighthouses around the globe.

The radio station set up at the weekend's event reached lighthouses in Japan, the ABC reported.

Batavia Coast Maritime Heritage Association chairman and event organizer Howard Gray said the gesture was a way for the community to show its appreciation for the distinctive structure.

"It just seemed that the lighthouse held a great place in peoples' hearts and to show your affection - you give a hug," Gray said. Endi