Cape Higuer Lighthouse facts for kids
| Location | Hondarribia Gipuzkoa Basque Country (autonomous community) |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 43°23′31″N 1°47′30″W / 43.39194°N 1.79179°W |
| Year first constructed | 1878–1881 |
| Construction | stone tower |
| Tower shape | square tower with balcony and lantern attached |
| Height | 21 metres (69 ft) |
| Focal height | 65 metres (213 ft) |
| Range | 23 nautical miles (43 km; 26 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl(2)W.10s |
The Cape Higuer Lighthouse (called Faro de Higuer in Spanish) is a special building. It is a lighthouse found on the Spanish Atlantic coast. This coast is part of the Bay of Biscay.
The lighthouse is located in the town of Hondarribia. It sits west of the mouth of the Bidasoa River. This river forms the border between Spain and France. The Cape Higuer Lighthouse is the most eastern lighthouse on Spain's Atlantic coast. It helps ships find their way safely.
Contents
What is the Lighthouse Tower Like?
The Cape Higuer Lighthouse was built a long time ago. It was constructed between 1878 and 1881. A person named Francisco Lafarga designed this beautiful building.
The main part of the lighthouse is a square tower. It stands 21 meters (about 69 feet) tall. Halfway up, the tower changes shape. It becomes an eight-sided (octagonal) section. This part holds the red-painted lantern at the very top. The lantern has a round glass dome.
How the Light Works
When the lighthouse was first built, it used an oil lamp. This lamp could shine its light up to 16 miles away. In 1905, a petroleum lamp replaced the oil lamp. Later, in 1937, the light was changed to use electricity.
The bright white light of the lighthouse shines from 65 meters (about 213 feet) above the sea. This is called its fire height. The light can be seen from 23 nautical miles away. The lighthouse has a special pattern of flashes. It shows two white flashes every 10 seconds. This pattern is called its Light characteristic (Fl(2)W.10s).
The Cape Higuer Lighthouse has special numbers to identify it. Its international number is D-1452. Its national code in Spain is 00040.
A Lighthouse Before This One
About 150 meters away from the current lighthouse, there was an older one. This first lighthouse was destroyed in 1874. This happened during a conflict called the Third Carlist War.
What is Around the Lighthouse?
Near the lighthouse, you can find some useful places. There is a bar, a restaurant, and even a campsite. Many people visit this area.
The lighthouse is also the starting point for a famous walking path. This path is called the GR11 Long-distance trail. It is a very long trail, stretching over 820 kilometers (about 509 miles). The trail goes all the way across Spain to the Cap de Creus on the Mediterranean coast.
See also
In Spanish: Faro de Cabo Higuer para niños
