La Isleta Lighthouse facts for kids
| Location | Las Palmas, Gran Canaria |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 28°10′27″N 15°25′08″W / 28.17408°N 15.41897°W |
| Year first lit | 1865 |
| Height | 10 metres (33 ft) |
| Focal height | 249 metres (817 ft) |
| Range | 21 nautical miles (39 km; 24 mi) |
The La Isleta Lighthouse (Spanish: Faro de La Isleta) is an old lighthouse that is still working today. It was built in the 1800s on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria, which is part of the Canary islands.
This lighthouse stands on the rocky La Isleta peninsula. From here, it looks out over the Port of Las Palmas. This port is just north of Las Palmas, the capital city of Gran Canaria. The La Isleta light is at the very northeast tip of the island. It helps guide ships coming into the port. It is located between the Sardina lighthouse to the east and the Punta de Melenara lighthouse to the south.
About the Lighthouse
The La Isleta Lighthouse was one of the first lighthouses built for the Canary Islands. It is the oldest lighthouse on Gran Canaria. An engineer named Juan de León y Castillo designed it. The lighthouse started working in 1865.
It is a two-story building painted white. The light shines from a special room called a lantern room. This room is at the top of a stone tower, which sits above the main building.
How the Light Works
Because the lighthouse is on top of a hill, its light shines from very high up. The light's "focal height" is 249 meters (about 817 feet) above sea level. This makes it the highest working lighthouse in all of Spain!
The light flashes white every twenty seconds. It can be seen from about 21 nautical miles away. That's about 39 kilometers or 24 miles!
The lighthouse uses a special Fresnel lens and a 400-watt lamp. This lens helps make the light very bright and focused. Besides guiding ships, the lighthouse also works as an aerial beacon. This means it helps guide airplanes too.
Automation and History
The La Isleta Lighthouse was the last lighthouse on Gran Canaria to become automated. This happened in 1999. Before that, a person called a lighthouse keeper lived and worked there. The last keeper was Augustine Becerra, who retired in 1999.
In July 2015, a special plaque was placed at the lighthouse. It honored the work of all the keepers, including Mr. Becerra. This was also to celebrate 150 years of the lighthouse helping ships.
The lighthouse is in a military area, so people cannot visit it. Today, it works mostly by itself. Technicians from the Port Authority of Las Palmas visit it sometimes to check on it.
The lighthouse has special numbers for international shipping. Its Admiralty number is D2798. Its NGA identifier is 113-23932.
See also
- List of lighthouses in the Canary Islands
- List of lighthouses in Spain
