Faro del Comercio facts for kids
The Faro del Comercio is a tall, bright orange tower in Monterrey, Mexico. It was designed by a famous Mexican architect named Luis Barragán and built by Raúl Ferrera in 1984. This special monument helps Monterrey look like a modern and important city.
The Faro del Comercio stands out among other cool places in Monterrey. These include Neptune's Fountain and the Bridge of Unity. It also complements older, historic spots like the Bishopric Palace and the City's Cathedral. The tower helps show that Monterrey is a leading industrial city in Mexico.
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What is the Faro del Comercio?
The Faro del Comercio was built to celebrate a big event. It marked 100 years since the Chamber of Commerce of Monterrey was founded. This important tower is located in the Macroplaza, which is Monterrey's main park. It stands near the city's beautiful Cathedral.
How Big is the Faro del Comercio?
This impressive tower is very tall, reaching almost 70 meters high. That's about 230 feet! It is also about 12 meters wide. Its bright reddish-orange color makes it easy to spot when you visit the Macroplaza.
The Green Light Show
At night, the Faro del Comercio puts on a cool light show. A strong green spotlight rotates from the top of the tower. It shines its beam across the night sky of Monterrey. This green light adds a unique touch to the city's evenings.
Other bright lights also shine in the Monterrey sky. These come from places like the Museum of Mexican History and the Santa Lucia Riverwalk. Even the large Mexican flag on Bishopric Hill lights up at night. All these lights create a vibrant and exciting view.
How the Light Works
For some years, the original light system had problems. It was supposed to have three different colored lasers, but it didn't work well. Later, parts of the system were fixed and redesigned. Now, it uses a green light because our eyes see green best.
Even with the new design, the light show is not as powerful as first planned. However, the tower was repainted and officially reopened on September 16, 2006. This date is important because it's Mexico's Independence Day.
See also
In Spanish: Faro del Comercio para niños
