Pechiguera Lighthouse

Pechiguera Lighthouse

The original and current lighthouses
Lanzarote
Location Playa Blanca
Lanzarote
Canary Islands
Spain
Coordinates 28°51′21″N 13°52′21″W / 28.8558°N 13.8726°W / 28.8558; -13.8726Coordinates: 28°51′21″N 13°52′21″W / 28.8558°N 13.8726°W / 28.8558; -13.8726
Year first constructed 1866 (first)
Year first lit 1988 (current)
Deactivated 1988 (first)
Construction concrete tower (current)
stone tower (first)
Tower shape cylindrical tower with double balcony and lantern (current)
cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern (first)
Markings / pattern white tower, grey lantern dome (current)
unpainted tower, grey lantern dome (first)
Height 50 metres (160 ft) (current)
10 metres (33 ft) (first)
Focal height 55 metres (180 ft) (current)
Range 17 nautical miles (31 km; 20 mi)
Characteristic Fl (3) W 30s.
Admiralty number D2782
NGA number 24048
ARLHS number CAI-047
Spain number ES-12129
Managing agent Autoridad Portuaria de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

The Pechiguera or Punta Pechiguera lighthouse (Spanish: Faro de Pechiguera) is an active lighthouse on the Canary island of Lanzarote. It is the second lighthouse to be built at Punta Pechiguera, which is at the south-western end of the island.[1][2]

History

The original lighthouse which was designed by the engineer Juan de León y Castillo opened in 1866, and consists of a 10 metres (33 ft) tower at the front of a single storey keeper's house. It was deactivated in 1988, following the construction of the new lighthouse, and in 2002 was registered as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the listing for Las Palmas.[3]

Detail of the 1866 lighthouse

The new lighthouse built from white stone, is one of the tallest lighthouses in the Canaries at 50 metres (160 ft) in height, being superseded only by Maspalomas lighthouse on Gran Canaria at 56 metres (184 ft), and the 59 metres (194 ft) Morro Jable lighthouse on Fuerteventura.[1]

With a focal height of 55 metres (180 ft) above the sea, its light can be seen for 17 nautical miles, and consists of three flashes of white light every thirty seconds. In conjunction with the lights at Tostón and Punta Martiño, it marks the narrow La Bocayna strait that separates the islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.[1]

Punta Pechiguera is a barren promontory of volcanic rocks; originally quite isolated it is now being encroached upon by coastal developments from the Playa Blanca resort.[2] A coastal walkway links the lighthouse with the centre of the resort, the majority of which consists of a paved promenade or esplanade (Spanish: paseo maritimo) along the seafront.[4]

In 2008, Pechiguera in conjunction with five other lighthouses was depicted in a set of six commemorative stamps by the Spanish postal service Correos.[5]

See also


References

  1. 1 2 3 Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Spain: Canary Islands". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Las Palmas - Punta Pechiguera". History of the Lighthouses. Puertos del Estado. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  3. ↑ "Faro de Pechiguera". Bien de Interés Cultural. Gobierno de Canarias. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  4. ↑ "Seafront at Playa Blanca". Walking. turismolanzarote.com. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "Faros 2008". Stamp Issues. Correos. Retrieved 5 October 2014.


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