Arecibo Light facts for kids
| Location | Arecibo Puerto Rico |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 18°28′55.076″N 66°41′55.335″W / 18.48196556°N 66.69870417°W |
| Year first lit | 1898 |
| Automated | 1964 |
| Foundation | Stone base |
| Construction | Stone and Brick Tower |
| Tower shape | Hexagonal tower with balcony and lantern attached to the primary building. |
| Markings / pattern | white tower, black lantern |
| Height | 46 feet (14 m) |
| Focal height | 120 feet (37 m) |
| Original lens | Third order Fresnel lens (1898) |
| Range | 14 nautical miles (26 km; 16 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 5s. |
The Arecibo Lighthouse & Historical Park (also called Faro de Arecibo in Spanish) is a famous lighthouse in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. It's also known as the Los Morrillos Lighthouse. This special place helps us remember Puerto Rico's long history under Spanish rule. The lighthouse has stood tall on the Punta Morrillos headland since 1898. It was the very last lighthouse built by Spain during their 300 years on the island. Even though the Spanish Empire ended that same year after the Spanish-American War, the Arecibo Lighthouse kept shining.
Contents
A Look at the Lighthouse
The Arecibo Lighthouse was designed in a style called Neoclassic. This style was popular in the 1800s. The lighthouse has a grand rectangular building connected to a six-sided tower. This tower holds the light at the top. The main building, where the lighthouse keepers used to live, is about 40 feet (12 meters) wide and 84 feet (25 meters) long. The hexagonal tower has a bronze dome on top. Inside this dome is the lantern room, where the light shines from.
How the Light Works
When it was first built, the lighthouse used a special lens called a Fresnel lens. This lens was very powerful. It could send a beam of light up to 18 miles (29 kilometers) away. This light helped warn ships that they were getting close to the coast. In 1931, the lighthouse was updated. It started using electricity to power its light. Today, the lantern has a smaller lens. It sends out a bright white flash every five seconds.
From Neglect to a Park
For many years, people lived and worked at the lighthouse. They made sure the light was always shining. But in 1964, the lighthouse became automated. This means machines took over the job, and no one needed to live there anymore. Without people taking care of it, the lighthouse started to fall apart. It was damaged and vandalized. The original Fresnel lens was even broken in 1975 and completely destroyed by 1977.
A New Beginning
After years of being neglected, the Arecibo Lighthouse got a new chance. In 2001, a private company worked to fix it up. Now, it's a fun place called the Arecibo Lighthouse and Historical Park. Visitors can learn about history and have a great time.
What You Can See at the Park
The park has many cool things to explore:
- A copy of a Taíno Indian village. The Taíno were the native people of Puerto Rico.
- Models of Christopher Columbus's famous ships.
- Areas that show what slavery quarters looked like.
- A replica of a pirate ship and a pirate cave.
- A small zoo with different animals.
- Aquariums filled with saltwater fish.
- A playground for kids to enjoy.
- A water park to cool off on hot days.
The lighthouse itself is now a museum. Inside, you can see old items from ships. You can also learn about how the lighthouse was built. There are exhibits about its history and the Spanish-American War.
Gallery
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View of Arecibo Light from Playa La Poza del Obispo
See also
In Spanish: Faro de Arecibo para niños
