Evangelistas Lighthouse facts for kids
| Location | Evangelistas Islets, Pacific entrance to Strait of Magellan, Chile |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 52°23′10″S 75°05′45″W / 52.38611°S 75.09583°W |
| Year first lit | 18 September 1896 |
| Construction | steel tower |
| Tower shape | cylindrical tower with lantern and gallery on a single-storey concrete and stone keeper's quarters |
| Markings / pattern | white lower tower with red horuzontal band, white lantern and balcony with red trim |
| Height | 13 metres (43 ft) |
| Focal height | 58 metres (190 ft) |
| Original lens | 500 mm |
| Range | 56 kilometres (35 mi) |
| Characteristic | flashing: period 10s, flash 0.3s, eclipse 9.7s, 194-250 white, 250-260 no light, 260-312.5 white, 312.5-318 no light, 318-186 white, 186-194 no light |
The Evangelistas Lighthouse (Spanish: Faro Evangelistas) is a very special lighthouse. It is known as one of the most difficult to reach and isolated lighthouses in the world. It stands on the Evangelistas Islets in Chile, right where the Pacific Ocean meets the Strait of Magellan.
This lighthouse is super important for ships. It helps them find their way when they are sailing east across the Pacific Ocean. It guides them safely into the Strait of Magellan, a famous waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Contents
Building the Evangelistas Lighthouse
The Evangelistas Lighthouse was a big engineering success for its time. It was built by a Scottish engineer named George Henry Slight. He was asked to come to Chile by the Chilean President, Jorge Montt. The President wanted Slight to create a system of lighthouses for Chile.
Work on the lighthouse began on April 30, 1895. When George Slight first arrived at the Evangelistas Islets, he wrote about how wild and lonely the place was. He described seeing "dark rocks" and "raging waves." He said it was a "frightening" sight that most people could hardly imagine.
Challenges During Construction
Building the lighthouse was not easy. George Slight faced many problems. The weather was often very bad, making it hard to get materials and equipment to the islands. There were also issues with the workers, some of whom were not disciplined. Many of the 80 workers were from Croatia and the Chiloé Archipelago. Ten workers were even fired for not following orders.
Despite all these difficulties, the lighthouse was finished enough to be turned on by September 18, 1896. President Jorge Montt himself visited to light it up for the first time in a special ceremony.
What the Lighthouse Does Today
The Evangelistas Lighthouse is more than just a light. It also has a weather station that helps forecast the weather. There is also a telecommunications station, which allows people to communicate from this remote location.
The lighthouse was repaired and updated between 1995 and 1996. During this time, the top part of the lighthouse, called the lantern, was replaced. They put in a new one that looked just like the original.
Today, the lighthouse and its tower are not open for people to visit. It remains a vital tool for navigation.
Why the Lighthouse is Important
At the start of the 20th century, the United States Hydrographic Office talked about how important this lighthouse was. They said it was "of the utmost importance" for ships to see Los Evangelistas (the islands) when coming near the Strait of Magellan.
They noted that the islands were 170 feet (about 52 meters) high. The light from the lighthouse could be seen from 20 miles (about 32 kilometers) away. This made it a very good landmark for ships both day and night.
See also
In Spanish: Faro Evangelistas para niños
- Lighthouses in Chile
- List of lighthouses in Chile
