Faro del Comercio facts for kids
The Faro del Comercio (which means "Lighthouse of Commerce") is a tall, bright orange monument in Monterrey, Mexico. It was designed by a famous architect named Luis Barragán and built in 1984 by Raúl Ferrera. This unique structure is a well-known sight in Monterrey, standing alongside other modern landmarks like the Neptune's Fountain and the Bridge of Unity. It also helps show that Monterrey is a modern and important industrial city.
About the Monument
The Faro del Comercio was built to celebrate the 100th birthday of Monterrey's Chamber of Commerce. You can find it near the south end of the Macroplaza, which is a large central park in Monterrey. It stands across from the city's Cathedral and behind the new Monterrey City Hall.
This monument is very tall! It reaches about 70 meters (229 feet) into the sky and is about 12 meters (40 feet) wide. Its bright reddish-orange color makes it easy to spot when you visit the Macroplaza.
The Green Light Beam
At night, the Faro del Comercio often projects a bright green light beam that rotates across the city sky. This beam appears in a somewhat random pattern over the Monterrey Metropolitan Area.
For a while, the light mechanism had problems and stopped working. It was originally meant to have three different colored lasers and be much more powerful. After some repairs and redesigns, the green light was brought back. Green was chosen because our eyes can see it best, making the light appear brighter even with less power. The monument was repainted and officially reopened on September 16, 2006, for Mexico's Independence Day.
Images for kids
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The tall, orange Faro del Comercio monument.
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Photo of the Faro del Comercio and the Monterrey Cathedral on the right.
See also
In Spanish: Faro del Comercio para niños
