Cape Pembroke facts for kids
Cape Pembroke (Spanish: Cabo San Felipe) is the most eastern point of the Falkland Islands. It is located on East Falkland, which is one of the main islands. At Cape Pembroke, you will find an automated lighthouse that helps ships navigate safely around the coast.
Contents
The Cape Pembroke Lighthouse
| Year first constructed | 1855 (first) |
|---|---|
| Year first lit | 1987 (current) |
| Deactivated | 1982 (first) |
| Construction | cast iron tower |
| Tower shape | cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | black tower with a horizontal white band, black lantern |
| Height | 18 metres (59 ft) (first) |
| Focal height | 30 metres (98 ft) (current) |
| Original lens | 3rd order Fresnel lens |
| Range | 10 nautical miles (19 km; 12 mi) |
A lighthouse was first built at Cape Pembroke in 1855. It was 18 meters (about 59 feet) tall. Before the lighthouse, many ships had crashed near a dangerous rock called Billy Rock. There were only unlit markers there, which were not very helpful at night.
The lighthouse was rebuilt in 1906 and then updated in the 1990s. The first light used oil from rape seeds. This oil burned a lot, so people tried using sea lion oil instead. When the lighthouse was rebuilt in 1906, it started using paraffin (a type of fuel) and was powered by a clockwork system. After World War II, a more modern lighthouse was built nearby.
There used to be a small house for the lighthouse keepers at Cape Pembroke. Today, the lighthouse itself is a listed building. This means it is an important historical structure that is protected.
A Small Farm at Cape Pembroke
In the late 1800s, the Cape Pembroke area was home to a small farm. The government of the Falkland Islands rented this land to a man named James Smith from Stanley. There were not many small farms like this on the islands. James Smith strongly believed that land should be shared more fairly so that more people could have their own small farms.
Remembering the Atlantic Conveyor
In June 2007, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex visited Cape Pembroke. He helped to reveal a special memorial there. This memorial remembers the SS Atlantic Conveyor. This ship was a merchant vessel, meaning it usually carried goods. However, it was used by the British military during the Falklands Conflict in 1982.
During the conflict, the ship was attacked by Argentine planes. Explosions on board sadly killed 12 sailors. After the attack, the ship was being pulled by another vessel but it sank off the northeastern coast of the Falkland Islands. The memorial at Cape Pembroke helps people remember those who lost their lives.
Gallery
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Waves crashing over Cape Pembroke on the eastern side of East Falkland
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A memorial unveiled in 2007 to the SS Atlantic Conveyor at Cape Pembroke in the Falkland Islands
See also
In Spanish: Cabo San Felipe para niños
