Fuencaliente Lighthouse facts for kids

The Fuencaliente Lighthouse is an active lighthouse found at the very southern tip of La Palma. La Palma is one of the beautiful Canary Islands in Spain. There are actually two lighthouses here! The first one was built in 1903. Even though it's still standing, a newer, taller lighthouse took over its job in 1985. These lighthouses are important guides for ships sailing near the islands.

Where is the Fuencaliente Lighthouse?

The lighthouses are located at the southern end of La Palma. This is about 13 kilometers (8 miles) south of a town called Los Canarios. You can easily reach the lighthouses by road. The tower itself is closed to visitors, but you can visit the area around it. There are parking spaces available. The lighthouses are right next to the Salinas de Fuencaliente [de; es], which are salt flats. They are also near a small village called El Faro.

The Old Lighthouse (Built 1903)

Work on the first lighthouse began in 1882. It was built using stone brought from Arucas, Las Palmas. The building was finished around 1898, and the lighthouse started working in 1903. This old lighthouse has a 12-meter (39-foot) tall stone tower. It stands in front of a one-story house where the lighthouse keeper used to live.

Originally, the light flashed three times in a row. It was powered by an oil lamp. In 1939, a strong earthquake badly damaged the lighthouse. It had to be rebuilt, and the tower was replaced with concrete. For a while, a temporary light was used, which later became permanent. This new light flashed once every 6 seconds and could be seen from about 15 miles (24 kilometers) away.

The keeper's house was left empty and slowly fell apart. Earthquakes from the nearby San Antonio volcano [nl] also sped up its decay. The old lighthouse stopped working in 1985, and its lantern was removed.

However, the old building and tower were saved! Restoration work began in 2001 and finished in 2004. A new lantern was even put back on the tower. Today, the keeper's house is a special place. It's an interpretation center for the marine reserve around the island. It opened in 2006. Inside, one room looks like a volcanic cave with a glass floor. You can also see a life-size bronze statue of a dolphin hanging from the ceiling in a fishing net.

The New Lighthouse (Built 1985)

The construction of the new lighthouse started in 1983. It began guiding ships in 1985. This lighthouse is a 24-meter (79-foot) tall concrete tower. It has two balconies and a lantern at the top. The tower is painted white with two red bands.

The light is 36 meters (118 feet) above sea level. It sends out three white flashes every 18 seconds. This bright light can be seen from 14 nautical miles away.

A Place of Remembrance

The area near the Fuencaliente Lighthouse is also a place of remembrance. In 1570, a ship called the Santiago was sailing near the Canary Islands. It was attacked by a French corsair (a type of pirate) named Jacques de Sores. Many people on board, including a group of Jesuits, lost their lives.

In 1971, 40 concrete crosses were placed on the seabed about 200 meters (656 feet) off the lighthouse. These crosses mark the spot where these people died. This underwater site is about 20 meters (66 feet) deep and is now a popular place for divers.

Next to the old lighthouse tower, another monument was built in October 2014. This monument is a stone cross. It has a plate with the names of the people who died engraved on it.

Images for kids

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  Memorial
  "A los Jesuitas"

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  Plaque on the west side

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  Plaque on the east side

See also

In Spanish: Faro de Fuencaliente para niños