Arenas Blancas Lighthouse facts for kids
| Location | Villa de Mazo La Palma Canary island Spain |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 28°34′12″N 17°45′38″W / 28.569951°N 17.760458°W |
| Year first constructed | 1993 |
| Construction | concrete tower |
| Tower shape | cylindrical tower with a spherical roof |
| Markings / pattern | white tower |
| Height | 38 metres (125 ft) |
| Focal height | 46 metres (151 ft) |
| Range | 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi) |
| Spain number | ES-13025 |
The Arenas Blancas Lighthouse (which means White Sands Lighthouse in Spanish) is a working lighthouse. It stands on the beautiful Canary island of La Palma, in a place called Villa de Mazo. You can find it close to the small village of La Salemera. The bigger town of Mazo is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) to the north-west.
Lighthouses are like giant beacons that help ships find their way. They send out bright lights to guide sailors, especially at night or in bad weather. This lighthouse is one of four main lighthouses on La Palma. Each one helps mark a different part of the island. The Arenas Blancas Lighthouse is on the eastern side. The Punta Lava Lighthouse is on the western side. And the lighthouses at Punta Cumplida and Fuencaliente are at the very north and south points of the island.
What is the Arenas Blancas Lighthouse like?
People realized a lighthouse was needed here in 1989. It was built to help ships sailing along the east coast of La Palma. The lighthouse started working in 1993. It stands on a cliff about 8 meters (26 feet) above the Atlantic Ocean. This high spot helps its light shine far across the water.
The light from the lighthouse can be seen up to 20 nautical miles away. That's about 37 kilometers or 23 miles! It has a special light pattern. This pattern is three flashes of white light every eight seconds. This unique pattern helps sailors know which lighthouse they are seeing.
The lighthouse tower is 38 meters (125 feet) tall. It is made of concrete and is white in color. It has a modern and interesting design. The tower is shaped like a cylinder with a rounded top. The light shines out from a horizontal opening that faces the sea.
The port authority of province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife takes care of the lighthouse. They make sure it is always working properly. It has a special international number, D2849.51, and a national number, 13025. These numbers help identify it around the world.
Map of Lighthouses
See also
In Spanish: Faro de Arenas Blancas para niños
- List of lighthouses in the Canary Islands
- List of lighthouses in Spain
