Worn Away By the Tides

In the 1790s, hoping to insulate the planned Montauk Lighthouse from the crashing waves of the Atlantic, federal surveyors decided to build it on top of Turtle Hill, 297 feet from the tip of Montauk Point -- about the length of a football field. Over time, however, the ocean -- and heavy-footed climbers -- steadily wore away the surrounding cliffs. The lighthouse is now just 70 feet from the water.